On The Dirt Side....

Back on the trail again..............

2012-01-24T10:05:00.023-05:00

On Sunday I wasn't able to get out for the Bikesabbath WRCS #5 ride as I had planned. There was alot going on and I just couldn't swing the morning ride time. So after a quick lunch I headed toward the trail!

It makes me nervous to be out on the roads after they have been plowed. Especially when the shoulders are not cleared. So the Greenway (rail to trail) seemed to be exactly what I needed. I was able to work on power and balance. It was slow going but well worth it! I used the same combo of layers on my feet as I had mentioned in the last post and it worked like a charm!! I can't tell you how excited I am to have warm feet for longer than 15 minutes!! I only passed one other trail user and he was walking his dog. He chuckled as I passed by and questioned my sanity!! :)

Cheers,
Sue

Cold feet?.............

2012-01-20T16:18:00.001-05:00

(Will this be the combination to keep my "tootsie's" warm?)

I'm a bit of a late blog poster on this one but forgive me, sometimes life gets busy!! :)

Last Sunday was a chilly ride but with the sun shining I wasn't going to miss WRCS #4. Well it's no secret, I have been plagued with cold feet and no solution for it in these frigid temps. However, on Sunday I may have solved it! Perhaps I have the right "mix" after years of "un"comfortably numb toes and a couple of blog posts later! The coldest posted temp during the ride was -14 degrees Celsius. So it was a pretty good test, however it wasn't crazy windy out. So before I get too pumped about it I will give it another test/trial and report back my findings! As far as the actual ride, well we were a group of almost 30 and rode for over 2.5 hours. Perfect!

Cheers,

Sue

Great times with my teamy.................

2012-01-11T21:54:00.000-05:00

January 7, 2012 - January 8, 2012.....

Another year as team-mates!! :)

I had never been to a roller derby and to be quite honest I really didn't know what to expect. I envisioned ladies on rollerskates combined with dodge ball play (if that makes sense)!! lol Well I was partially right and obviously not about the ball!! I quickly got an update on rules by Erin and Elisha was kind enough to interpret the program for me! The derby score was a blow out but it was a real cool experience. Though it is unlikely I would ever participate I may go back to watch another battle!!

I spent the night at Erins and after a good night's sleep, we had breakfast and got out rolling...... on the bikes of course!! The weather was awesome! At one point in the ride we could see what looked like horses out on the dirt road ahead of us. As we got closer it became apparent that they were not horses at all!! They were lama's out for a walk with their owner's. They graciously let us take pictures and then we were off pedalling again.

The 2012 team is looking different this year!! Stay tuned for an update on the exciting news!!

Cheers,

Sue

The Local "Star"...............

2012-01-02T22:01:00.002-05:00

I went out for a quick spin tonight and had an awesome encounter with the newest local star! As I pedalled down Rd. 2, there were more then a dozen cars parked on the side of the road. I slowed right down and there it was, in flight, heading right toward me! The one that has everyone talking, the majestic Great Grey Owl! It was intimidating seeing this large bird heading my way. It flew about 5 ft from me and then perched itself on a sign post. It stayed there for a brief time and then off it went again and found shelter in a tree. This owl has bird watchers coming from far away. It is the largest species of owl in North America. It is not native to the area and the fact that it has been found this South is a real surprise. I may not be a real bird watcher but in this case....... I guess I really do give a "hoot"! :) I took a few pics and then had to be on my way as daylight was slowly slipping away!

In other biking news, the WRCS kicked off Sunday with a New Year's day ride! There were about 30 riders. Here's a brief recap: The temp was above freezing, it was windy, we rode on pavement and trail, the pace was casual, there were 4 flats (courtesy of only 2 riders.....), and good conversations! What a great way to start 2012.

Happy and Healthy New Year to Everyone!!

Cheers,
Sue

Happy Holidays....................................

2011-12-28T21:21:00.010-05:00

There was a bit of a plaid invasion in our house this year!! Every year I make the kids pose in front of our Christmas tree! You would think as they get older it would get easier, like a 1,2 smile, click, click picture over. Well it just doesn't go like that, nope! They just get sillier! Our Christmas was pretty low key this year and it felt great just to chill, eat and well eat some more!

Apparently naughty or nice..... they still got presents! :) I love Christmas morning! In fact I was up at 4:00 am telling myself to go back to sleep! I was really hoping Santa was gonna put some new "wheels" under the tree!! ;)

Oh wait! He did put some new "wheels" under the tree! Clayton was really impressed! He put his new helmet on, grabbed his new board and decided to jump off the landing in the garage! Next thing I knew on Tues. (Dec. 27) he was on the internet researching how he would make a 1/4 pipe! He handed the idea over to Jason and off they went to buy some wood and a few hours later, voila, his 1/4 pipe was reality! :)

So while Clayton and Jay worked on the new ramp.... I went out in the rain/snow for a bike ride! I have been battling a headcold and needed fresh air. I thought it would help open up my sinus'. The cool air was great but when I got back I had really itchy legs! I get that usually when it's real cold out but this was different! My knees got real itchy and red. They got puffy and swollen almost like fluid was under my skin. My skin felt real tight when I bent my knees! To top it off I had a bumpy rash! Of course I grabbed the camera to chronicle what was happening! lol... I took a shower and the swelling went down after about 15 min. I promise my knees look normal now but what a freaky thing! Still trying to figure it out! YUCK!

(my legs/knees right after my ride) (my legs/knees after the shower)

I know it's hard to tell but this is what my "heading" South looks like! ;)

Happy Holidays!

Cheers,

Sue

Balance........

2011-12-09T15:21:00.004-05:00

The weather was less than stellar but I had a need, a want, to get out and ride. I had only been on my bike once since Iceman and that was for the cross race at Bloomer. November was a very busy month which included a move (house) on Nov. 1. Since then it was Iceman, packing, unpacking, decorating, and the list goes on, not to mention everyday stuff such as raising 4 kids! After a long race season I usually take time off because I need a break, but this year it was time off to get stuff done! In the midst of all this "controlled chaos", as I like to call it, I lost a bit of balance. I didn't realize it because I was so busy, but then it crept up on me. I was not resting well, muscles were tired, couldn't turn my brain off and my body was in overdrive! As exciting as all the happenings going on in my life is, I was starting to teeter. I woke up this morning, after a restless night's sleep, feeling motivated and wanting to get on my bike. I often preach to "listen to your body", and that's exactly what I did! After some stretching, a quick core and upper body workout I put my layers on. Leaving the comfort of my toasty Acorn slippers I got on my Quiring and rode!

Heading out!

The only sign of a "rolling hill" around!

The sky was gray, roads wet, winds out of the south east, a light snow and fresh air!

Came back to a coffee and warmth! Cozy!

Bike shoes off and slippers back on!!

It wasn't a very long ride but it cleared my mind. It was exactly what I needed to restore balance. Ahhhhhhhh........

Cheers,
Sue

"Cross"ing Over......

2011-11-21T21:09:00.002-05:00

Event: Bloomer Park Cyclocross Race
Promoter: Tailwind-Racing
Date: Nov. 20, 2011
My ride:

I decided mid-week (last week) that I was going to do the cyclocross race at Bloomer. I have never been out to watch a cyclocross race let alone race in one! This was going to be a new experience, no pressure at all! I had been off my bike since Iceman and was getting the "itch" to get my heart rate up again! :) Friday I practiced some mounting and dismounting. On Sat. I was trying to figure out what tires I should use and opted for a trip to a local bike shop to grab myself some cyclocross tires. They mounted great on my 29er rims!!

With the race time being 12:15 pm, I actually got to sleep in a bit. Once we arrived at Bloomer, I registered, got a real quick warm up in and checked out a section of the course. I lined up next to the other pro women, and was the solo female on a mountain bike. I wasn't sure what to expect and the race got off with a short sprint for the holeshot prime. We then settled into a good pace. It took me about (3) laps to get used to the tires and the short course.

After 45 min, the race was done! I couldn't believe it, I even questioned the announcers as I came across the finish line! I am used to at least double the length race. I had a blast! It was/is great "cross" training!! :)

Top 3:
Kelly Paterson (Wolverine/ACFstores.com) - 1st
Me (Quiring Cycles) - 2nd
Anne Schwartz (Flying Rhino) - 3rd

Thanks Tailwind for helping make my 1st cyclocross race a great experience. I got a feeling I will be doing another!

Cheers,
Sue

Iceman 2011.............

2011-11-07T15:21:00.002-05:00

Friday: Travel day, shopping day, expo day, and a quick end of the course pre-ride day! I was very excited for this year's Bell's Beer Icem an Cometh. It's the race that wraps up my season but it also brings out so many talented athletes and fans. There is so much hype that goes along with it. This race should be on your to do list. You have to be there and experience it to fully understand why so many racers are drawn there year after year!!

Saturday: Race day and Bell's Beer Sunset On the Season Party!! When the World Champion, Catherine Pendrel (Luna Chix), rolls up to the start line, you know that the race is on! The pro women's field was so stacked this year, it was probably the strongest group to date! My race went very smooth. I held on to the lead group for the first 30 min. and then we hit some climbing and my recovery wasn't as quick as theirs and I fell off the back. I continued to pedal on my own and then caught some elite men racers and was able to work with them for a while. I got a second wind just after Williamsburg Road (just over half way) and continued to push. It's been that way for most of the races this year where it takes me almost half of the race to kick in. I was able to catch a couple pro women with about 9 km's to go and crossed the finish line in 8th! I was happy with my race and I had fun out there! The fans were awesome and so motivating!
Results:
CLASS: Pro Women

Place No.   Name            Town         Sta Teamname             Ice     
===== ===== ============ ============== === ==================== ======= 
 1   231 Heather Irimiger   Boulder       CO SUBARU - TREK       1:46:01 
 2   243 Chloe Woodruff     Tucson        AZ BMC MTN DEVELOPMENT  1:46:13

 3   232 Catharine Pendrel  Kamloops      BC LUNA CHIX            1:47:03

 4   225 Amanda Carey       Victor        ID KENDA - FELT         1:48:32

 5   226 Judy Freeman       Brighton      CO KENDA - FELT         1:48:45

 6   237 Johanna Schmidt    Traverse City MI EINSTEIN RACING      1:50:43

 7   224 Kelli Emmett       Manitou Spring CO GIANT               1:50:44

 8   242 Susan Stephens     Essex         ON QUIRING CYCLES       1:51:50

 9   240 Erica Tingey       Las Vegas     NV WHITE PINE RACING    1:51:57

10   234 Heather Spencer    Pinckney      MI TEAM FAST            1:54:55

11   238 Susan Vigland      Traverse City MI HAGERTY CYCLING      1:55:25

12   235 Mackenzie Woodring Belmont       MI PRIORITY HEALTH      1:56:37

13   223 Lynn Alfs          Birmingham    MI PAINT CREEK BICYCLES 1:56:38

14   246 Marne Smiley       Chicago       IL BOBS RED MILL        1:57:27

15   221 Jamie Galambos     Sylvania      OH MAUMEE VALLLEY WHEEL 2:00:21

16   239 Amanda Ryan        Wixom         MI TEAM GIANT           2:01:19

17   241 Erin Vicary        Walled Lake   MI QUIRING CYCLES       2:02:04

18   230 Patti Kaufmann     Whitefish Bay WI EXPO RACING          2:09:56

19   228 Michelle Peariso   Amherst       WI ADVENTURE 212/SPECIA 2:14:15

20   227 Dana Baurbenn      Shelby Twp    MI WOLVERINE/ACFSTORES. 2:22:34

Sunday: Jay and I were told about the Vasa Singletrack in Traverse City. So we thought before heading home we would take full advantage of the warmer November weather and hit the trails! So glad we did!

Cheers,
Sue

The Place To Be...........

2011-10-26T15:35:00.001-04:00

I know where we will be on Nov. 5, 2011, how about you?

Link to the "Sunset on the Season Party" Promo video.... Check it out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKttIZ-Z2hY&noredirect=1

Cheers,
Sue

Peak 2 Peak 2011 - "Bonk"ers.......

2011-10-16T13:39:00.000-04:00

For the past (2) years, P2P has always been a day trip, however this year we were invited to stay @ Camp Douglas Smith (a.k.a Camp Quiring) in Freesoil, MI. Jay Erin and myself left early Fri. morning under cloudy/rainy skies. We went to the race venue, Crystal Mountain to pick up our packages and to pre-ride the course. The temps were cool but no rain. With all the leaves on the ground, the promoter had volunteers out raking the course! The sandy ground had absorbed all the rain that had dropped throughout the week and the trail was in great shape. The course is not technical or tight at all. It is flowing single track, open double track, and has (1) punchy climb toward the end, followed by a long ski hill gradual climb. With the pre-ride done, we made our way to the "new" Quiring shop in Manistee. Scott and Christina gave us a tour. Soon after we were heading to camp. The camp is on Hamelin Lake and is owned by John Quiring (Scott's dad). They had assigned us "Chipmunk" cabin for the night. Under dark skies we learned about the history of the property and got to see a few of the buildings, followed by a few friendly rounds of ping pong! We retired for the night around 11:00 pm.

Alarm went off @ 8:00 am. The morning went by quickly. We left camp and arrived @ Crystal Mtn around 11:45. Lucky for us the race had been delayed by 15 min., making our new start time 12:45. This gave me a little more time to warm up in the frigid temps. It was very windy out and I told myself that I didn't want to get stuck pulling people around and working too hard. We started with the elite men. I had a good start, hung with the guys until we got to open road, lost the draft, my legs were not ready to go hard, I was out front in the wind, Mackenzie Woodring (Priority Health) made an attack on the left and I had to let her go. She was out of sight @ times, then I started to kick in a bit and by about the 1/2 way point of the 1st lap I caught her. I got out in front of her and........ well pulled the entire race! (Exactly what I did not want to do!!!) It was not a fast pace, but non-the-less I worked way too hard. It is so much easier to draft! The trail was like riding in peanut butter, sticky and energy sucking! I wasn't feeling super strong but just kept things steady. On my last lap I totally BONKED! I had nothing in me, no power, no energy and no zip! With 4 miles left in the race, Mackenzie pulled out from behind me and made a bit of an attack. I had no response to it and watched her pedal away. Just before the pitchy climb Johanna Schmidt (Einstein Racing) caught me from behind. I was tired, dizzy and wanted to lay down! On the final ski climb she made a pass and just as I had watched 1st place slip away 3 miles earlier, I now saw 2nd place go too. I could not counter her move! So in the end I came in 3rd. Erin finished 5th and Scott Quiring even put down a good race in the Elite men's race! Congrats to all!!

Thanks to Endoman Promotions (Tad Peacock) and the many volunteers for putting on an amazing event. The race brought out a record number of participants and great fans.

Even though my race did not go as I had hoped, I have to put it all in perspective. The race is part of the picture, it is not the entire picture. I had a great time with my friends! Now it's all about recovery for me. With (1) more race left this year, I have to find my legs again!

Cheers,

Sue

Crybaby Classic MTB Race 2011........

2011-10-02T18:21:00.002-04:00

I got myself up early Friday morning to head over to meet Erin @ her place for 8:00 am. It was a girls road trip to Petowsky, MI for the 2nd Annual Crybaby Classic. (I was going back to defend my title!) We loaded up her car and headed North! Not quite 5 hours later, we arrived at the venue, Nub's Nob. It was overcast and low 40 degrees F. Erin and I signed in, put our layers on and went out for a pre-ride. The first few miles of the course was as I had remembered it (including the Crybaby climb). We then went into a section of single singletrack. It was a great addition to the course (off camber and tight). After the 1/4 mile or so of singletrack, the course opened back up and then you were sent into another section of more flowing, wider singletrack. Towards the end of the approx. 9 mile lap, we had the same awesome fast, steep, flowing downhill as last year. The course was exactly what you hate to love....... CLIMBING! I was pretty pumped that the promoters listened to what the racers had asked for after last years race, some singletrack! It made for more of a MTB race course! Friday night was low key. We bundled up and cleaned/worked on our bikes, ate in at the hotel and in our pj's by 8:00 pm! That doesn't happen often!!

Our race was @ 10:10 am on Saturday. There were clear blue skies and high around 40 deg. F. Needless to say it took a while to warm up on our warm up! They added a $20 "prime" to our race this year for the fastest person through the start loop (short grass climb). I took the holeshot and the "prime"! :) I was out front on the opening sandy downhill. I was relaxed and didn't plan on pushing a hard pace to start. Well my strategy quickly changed! As we headed down the descent I had my rear wheel taken out by another female racer! I flew over my handlebars and had no idea what just happened! My pedal hammered the back of my right calf (giving me an instant "charlie"), smacked my face off the ground (small cut over my eyebrow), and banged my left quad! I picked my bike up, did a once over on it, everything appeared to be ok (only to find out later that my front tire has serious wobble and brake rub). I let out a few inappropriate words (oops) and with a little extra fire I had to chase down the girls! The pro women's field had some strong climbers and Johanna Schmidt was out in the lead. I knew I couldn't let her go!! One by one I began to catch back up and brought Johanna into sight. Just before the Crybaby climb I was able to get in front of her and take over the lead. After a quick recovery and heading up a gradual climb I reached to grab my bottle. Only to realize I had (1) bottle left! With Jay not able to go to the race and both Erin and I racing I had no one in the feed zone, so I opted to put (2) bottles on my bike and (1) in my back jersey pocket. Well after my crash I lost (2) bottles. I knew this was not the race to be drink deprived!! (No race is!) After lap (1) I was in 1st and there was no one within sight behind me. So the plan was to stop where I crashed and recoup my bottles. I came up to the spot and did not see the bottles!! So I carried on through lap (2) sipping what I had! Lucky for me, thanks to the promoters, just before the final downhill there was a neutral feed station! I stopped, asked the kind lady if I could fill my bottle with a Gatorade and voila full bottle to drink!! Went out on my 3rd lap still in the lead. As I was heading up the gradual climb early in my final lap, there was a women offering me MY water bottles. I thought that was really cool and explained I should be good to finish. She told me she would hold on to them for me! So I came across the finish line in 1st place, Johanna in 2nd and Erin in 3rd! Full results

I was out in the parking lot cooling down and Susan Vigland came over to me to hand me MY water bottles. I was confused. She was racing against me, how did she have my bottles? Well here's to good ol' sportsmanship!! It was her that (accidentally) took me out on the downhill, she flatted soon after, DNF'd, grabbed my bottles to meet me on the climb to make sure I had a drink and now was apologizing for the accident. Wow I really appreciated it!!

What a great couple days, great race, great people, great fun!! Hats off to the promoters, aside from the addition of singletrack, they also did equal payouts for men and women!! Thanks to the MANY volunteers who were so encouraging throughout the race!!

So now a day after the race, I feel like someone beat me with a bat! I am sore from the crash and trying to brace my fall. My body is also a bit fatigued from the approx. 1150m (3772') of climbing we did in 3 laps!! The aches and pains make me feel alive!!

Cheers,

Sue

Country Cross 2011................

2011-09-19T18:36:00.000-04:00

The 3rd Annual Country Cross Series is quickly approaching!! Check it out!!

Provincial Championships 2011.........

2011-09-12T10:36:00.000-04:00

The 2011 provincial championships were held in Duntroon, Ontario approx. 15 minutes outside of Collingwood. It was a new venue for the Ontario Cup circuit. The course was awesome! It had a perfect combination of double track, technical tight single track (ascents and descents), open double track climbing and downhills, rocks and roots. Other cool features: a nice stretch of rock garden, a few options of hard (over boulders) and easy lines (around the obstacle), and a short stream crossing. Each section of single track was followed by a strip of double track allowing for plenty of passing opportunity. I had so much fun pre-riding that I looked forward to racing it!

I had my nerves under control on race day and had a good warm up. I planned not go out too hard on the opening climb and I stuck to my game plan. I got to the top of the long double track climb in about 5th position. We came through the first set of single track and as it opened back up I made a pass to bring me up to 4th. I kept 2nd and 3rd within sight and came around for lap 2 sitting in 4th. I went back up the gradual climb and made up ground on Mandy Dreyer and Heather Gray. I passed Mandy and soon after I made a pass on Heather. Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing), had just come back from the World Championships (representing Canada), was out of sight in the lead. I was riding strong and found good flow through the single track. On my last lap I felt like I was in cruise control. I was relaxed and really enjoying the ride! I came through in 2nd place and was pretty pumped.

On the podium: Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing) 1st, ME (Quiring Cycles) 2nd, Heather Gray (Cycle Solutions) 3rd

Overall Ontario Cup Provincial Standings: Micheala Kofman (3 Rox Racing) -absent- 1st, ME (Quiring Cycles) 2nd, Mandy Dreyer 3rd.

Thanks to Chico Racing for promoting another awesome O-Cup series. My season is not quite over, I am still geared up to; attack a few more hills, tax my lungs a few more times, beat up my body a bit more, and simply do what I enjoy doing...... hitting the trails!!

Cheers,

Sue

Here and there.........

2011-08-29T13:36:00.002-04:00

       Skater Boy......
        Clayton working on his 4 wheel skills!


Singletrack Kids.....
Jay and I brought Paiten (14), Clayton (9) and Nolan (8) to ride some local singletrack. I was smiling form ear to ear.

Tailwind - Stony Creek XC Race.......

I will keep my race report brief. It was a beautiful day, awesome people, great trails and alot of fun. I came in 1st, Erin 2nd and Kim 6th.

Thanks to Tailwind for promoting another awesome race series!!

Cheers,

Sue

2011 Ore to Shore...........

2011-08-17T22:53:00.006-04:00

(Racers line up at the start as far as the eye can see! Hard Rock 48 mile race!!)

Jay and I rolled out of the driveway around 10:30 pm Thursday night. We were on our way to the U.P., Marquette, Michigan. Jay drove through the night and only stopped for a quick nap after about 6 hours of driving! Me on the other hand, I was support crew and took my usual spot, layed out on the bench seat, and I slept most of the drive. We pulled into camp (Tourist Park) around 10:30 am Friday. We were greeted by my teamy Erin and Jeff. In the afternoon, Erin and I headed out to see how the last few miles of the course looked. Some of it looked familiar to me, as this was my 2nd year racing the O2S, and other sections did not ring a bell. We were later joined at camp by teammate Steve and Nina and sponsor/teammate/bike builder Scott (Quiring) and Christina. We retired for the night early and I woke up early Sat. morning. The race time was 9:45 am, factor in drive time to the start and a warm up, we needed to leave camp by 8:00 am

I had a good starting position, 2nd row in the preferred start area. The start of the race was as fast as I remembered it from last year. There was a large group of us that stayed together on the road, through the first section of grass and climbing. I felt good and was top 5 women overall. I couldn't really stick with any group and worked too hard trying to hold on to wheels. I passed one female racer, putting me in 4th and at the halfway point I was about 20 sec. back from 3rd and felt relatively good. What happened after that I'm really not sure. The last 20 miles seemed to drag on. I had no punch and felt like my power was zapped. With 10 miles to go, I got caught by a female racer (Diana McFadden) and had no counter attack. Deflated I came across the line 5th overall women, Hard Rock. I wasn't pleased with my result but I gave everything I could give on that day. Congrats to everyone that finished the race! The Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic Race lives up to its name. It's a race that some challenge themselves just to finish, 48 miles of every type of terrain. Thanks to Jay, Nina and Jeff for the support and feed! Promoters and volunteers did an amazing job with this huge event and the race seemed to run flawlessly. Teammates Scott and Christina raced tandem and came in 3rd (even after a flat) in the 28 mile Soft Rock race, Erin finished 10th overall women Hard Rock and Steve ran the last 6 miles of the race because of a flat and still finished strong!

After the award ceremony we headed over to Upfront and Company for the Bells Brewery O2S post race party, presented by Caffeine Soul Productions. Bells Beer + friends + The Orbitsuns = a great time!!

Jay and I decided to stay in the U.P. Sunday night as well. I absolutely love it up there!! Jay, Scott and myself went to Marquette Mountain late Sunday morning. It was so awesome. One of the newer trails named "Gorgeous" was a blast. Coming into some of the corners "hot" could mean a fall off the cliff! The trail really was unlike anything I have ridden! The climbs (even with tired legs) were well worth the descents! :o) After the ride we headed over to Presque Isle where I did my first cliff jump! The water was crystal clear and the rocks at the bottom of the lake looked closer to the surface then they really were. I had a bit of hesitation but after witnessing a boy probably no older then 7, jump I knew I couldn't back down! There must have been 50 people hanging around and jumping. Way cool!! Monday we packed up and headed way home. We made a couple stops before leaving the U.P., 1 being for lunch..... PASTIES, and the other to put our feet in Lake Michigan!

As I write this blog I realize that there was so much more to this "race" designated weekend. My disappointment with my race result will fade in time but the memories and experiences that we made will remain vivid in my mind!!

Cheers,
Sue

Kelso - Ontario Cup #6............

2011-08-09T22:42:00.000-04:00

Date: August 7, 2011

Race: Ontario Cup #6, Kelso Conservation Area, Milton, Ontario

Promotors: Chico Racing

Female Elite Racers: 12

Bike: Quiring 29er

Finally an O-Cup that we could do as a day trip! Well I guess any could be but this one is the closest to home, only 3(+) hours away! Kim, Jay and myself made the trip to Kelso to pre-ride on Friday, August 5. There were no surprises...... long service road climb, fast single track, false flats, rocks, double track, fun descent, switch back climb...... The course was fun and the 1:30 start even had some technical lines through the rock sections that made things interesting! After 2 laps I felt like I had found flow and knew the course enough to race.

Race Day:

We were out the door for 8:00 am, got on the 401 and headed North! As we got closer we could see Milton had got quite a bit of rain. The rain was off and on all morning. However, come our 1:30 start the rain had passed! I warmed up as usual, and got a quick chat in with Mandy. Due to the weather our start had been delayed by 10 min. It seemed like forever waiting to get to the line! Around 1:40 we were off! I had a rather conservative start, I got squeezed in a bit but there was no need to panic...... the opening service road climb is a loooonnnng climb! I hit the base of the climb probably 5th wheel. Then made a couple passes before the top of the climb. As I crested the climb I was sitting in 3rd. My recovery was a bit slow but I knew to be patient. Mikaela Kofman (3 Rox Racing) was in the lead and Mandy Dreyer was in 2nd. I lost site of the 2 for a little bit but then wheeled Mandy in about half way through lap 1. Mandy slid out on a descending rock garden and I was able to get around her. At that point Heather Gray was on my wheel. We road safely through the very slick rock sections and came around for lap #2 together. I pushed a little harder up the long start climb on lap 2 and not long after I realized I was on my own. I just kept a steady pace, wanting to keep the rubber side down! Well that was until my final lap, I endoed, slow motion over my handlebars, hit my helmet/head off a tree and my shoulder off the ground. Ya, it hurt a bit... but I just needed to get through this lap! So in the end my effort was good to take 2nd!! I was happy with my finish, got a few new bruises, and a sore shoulder. Oh racing..... never a dull moment! Makes me feel alive!!

Cheers,

Sue

Manitoulin Island - Largest Island in a Freshwater Lake in the World.......

2011-08-08T23:29:00.000-04:00

With the long break between O-Cups I found plenty of things to do!! I raced the Stony Creek TT in Michigan, I took 1st and my teammate Erin took 2nd! Fun ride, fun race, fun course!

Other then some riding and everyday "my life" stuff I also was very lucky to get away for a few days with the kids to Manitoulin Island (unfortunately Jay had to work). Friends of ours and our kids had invited us to stay at their cottage with them last year and the timing didn't work out, so this year with a few months notice, we made it happen!

We left around 8:00 a.m. Saturday, July 30, to allow for plenty of time to get to Tobermory for the 3:40 pm sail time aboard the Chi-Cheemaun. With it being a long weekend, traffic was a bit heavy and it took us almost 6.5 hrs to get there. The ferry ride was approx. 2 hrs. Once we arrived on the Island we drove another 1.5 hours to get to camp. En route I couldn't help but notice the rolling terrain! I knew that was going to be great for my only "planned" activity...... bike rides/training rides!

With the cottage being about 5.5 km off the main road I had the kids lead me out on the quad and then meet me on the return. Okay I'll be honest..... it gave me comfort knowing that I wasn't alone in the woods, down a quite road/lane knowing there is black bears about! The island is awesome and my rides were great!

The trip didn't solely revolve around my biking.......there was fishing, boating, tubing, quad riding, swimming, hiking, eating, and relaxing. The cottage was very cozy and spacious and the property was beautiful. All the kids got along great and kept themselves busy! Of course at some point our trip had to come to an end. We made our way back home on Wednesday, Aug 3, sailing time 5:40 p.m., arrived home @ 1:30 a.m. Thursday! Thanks to Jeff and Rachel for inviting us and for being great hosts! So much fun was had by all!!

Cheers,
Sue

O-Cup #5 - BuckwalloW............

2011-07-13T22:03:00.002-04:00

On Friday July 8, my team mate Steve Dempsey made his first trip across the border to Canada. He was joining Jay, the kids, and myself on a trip to Gravenhurst for Ontario Cup #5. Buckwallow Cycling Centre is an awesome destination place let alone a great race venue. It is also very convenient that the KOA where we camped is right next to the trails!

Once we arrived we unpacked, set up camp, ate, napped...... all the usual camp arrival stuff. Steve, Pak, Kim and I headed out to pre-ride around 4:30. Steve brought his full suspension Quiring Ti bike and I took to the trails on my Quiring 29er hardtail. The course, the trails, the weather, could not have been more awesome. We had a blast pre-riding. We could not stop grinning from ear to ear. It was also great to see so many young riders on the trails!! There was not alot of climbing but it makes up for that in technical! Rocks, roots, tight single track, open punchy climbs, false flats, flowing single track...... The 1:30 racers also had a section added to the course that tested your balance, technical skills and nerves as you navigated through all rock section/single track.

Saturday was another beautiful day. We relaxed, swam, ate and I pre-rode 1 more time. Had I not been racing on Sunday I probably would have biked the trails all day with Jay and the kids!! So much fun!!

When I awoke Sunday something seemed different about my race morning feelings. I was unusually calm, patient, talkative (for race morning) and organized. I had some nerves but I was never overwhelmed by them. The temps were a bit warmer then the previous days but I was not going to complain..... at least there was no rain!! Steve and I warmed up and then headed into the woods, to the starting area.
I knew at 'go' I was not going to go for the holeshot. The open double track start was long and I knew if I stayed behind the leaders it would give my legs extra time to get used to the pace and warm up. The elite women's group stayed pretty close together until we got to the section of single track that was all rock. I was third in, behind Mandy Dreyer and Heather Gray. Things were going OK until we got to a punchie little rock climb. I messed it up, the lead girls pulled away a bit, I recovered and then got back on their wheels in the double track. In a section of single track Heather got hung up, Mandy and myself went around her. From that point on, Mandy and I pulled away from the group. It was awesome to ride/race with her. We are very encouraging and supportive of each other. We rode the first 2 laps together, and toward the end of lap 3, I was able to put a bit of a gap on her. I held my pace through lap 4 and came in for the victory!! My first O-Cup win of 2011!! I was very happy with my ride and had alot of fun racing!! Steve had a great race, a couple crashes and came in 9th in the elite men's field. Kim also had a good race, coming in 9th in the Master Expert Women's category.

(It's all in the socks!! Mandy was pretty happy with her gift..... our team kit socks!! Nolan was practicing his future podium pose!!)

What a wonderful weekend!! Now I have a bit of time off before my next race. It's hard to believe we are already mid July and almost halfway through my race season!!

Cheers,

Sue

The past few weeks in review.........

2011-07-02T18:54:00.002-04:00

Ontario Cup #4 - Albion Hills

Albion Hills, O-Cup #4 brought my team mate Erin Vicary across the border for her first O-Cup race! It's been a couple years that I have been bugging her to come race on this side of the border and my persistence paid off! She got a great Canadian welcome from friends, fellow racers and even the promoters got their fair share of jokes on my American team mate! It was a great weekend of camping, racing and hanging out! I felt like I found some intensity in my race and was pleased with my 4th place finish! For Erin's perspective on the weekend check out the team blog!

(June 10-12, 2011 - O-Cup #4 - Jay, Erin, Pak, Kim and myself..... never a dull moment at camp!)

Subaru Cup - Wisconsin

Our journey to Wisconsin brought us through 4 states in 9 hours of driving! The van packed to the roof, Jay would do all the driving as Steve, Erin and myself would fall in and out of sleep as we travelled through the night leaving at 1:30 in the morning on June 24, 2011. Needless to say, it was a night of restless sleep, of very little sleep! Morning light broke as we passed through Chicago and took in the great Chicago skyline. Lots of laughs in our tired state, including the one of Erin's UCI license picture (below)! That's not photo shopped and no your computer screen is not fuzzy, that's Erin's over ambitious laminating/heating skills. So unrecognizable that even the OCA the week before (Albion) could not stop laughing at it!

We arrived at LuWiSoMo Campground (10 minutes from the venue, Mt. Morris) and set up our tent city! After a quick bite to eat Steve, Erin and myself headed over to the venue to sign in and pre-ride the course.

The course was similar to last year's course. Tight and twisty single track that went up and down, some technical sections with lots of rocks and roots and some open climbs. I really liked the course and after 2 laps I started to feel some flow. We headed back to camp where we planned to chill the rest of the night. Night came rather quick for me. We had supper and I was tired..... So at around 6:30 pm I thought I would take a little nap. Well that turned out to be my bed time because I slept until the next morning. Our pro women's race was on Saturday @ 12:30. I went through my normal race morning routine, including my shut down, quiet, impatient state...... Nerves!

Erin and I put in a good warm up and my legs felt pretty good as we headed to the starting area. Call up was totally not in my favour. It was done by UCI points, USAC points, WORS series points and then whoever is left. I fell in the later category, meaning I believe I was called up maybe 33rd of 35 racers. The top USA racers, a couple of ladies from Mexico and Ontario's/Canada's Emily Batty were amongst the front line! The course started with an open wide switchback climb up the front of the ski hill. The climb lasted just over 2 minutes and then we dropped into the first stitch of singletrack. Here's where problem number one was. The group climbed together and then bottled necked at the singletrack. Being at the back of the group I was left standing there motionless as we waited for the middle of the pack to clear the slick little climb in the opening singletrack. So much time lost just waiting. Once I got through,, there were 2 sections that offered options for you to take. Option #1 was a bit more technical than option #2 but #1 was the faster line to take. As I came up to the first option, I took the faster route which gained me a couple of spots! I pedalled through to the next little slick climb and once again racers were off their bikes and backed up. So off and running once again. At the top came our second set of options. Again Option #1 was quicker, you had to ride a boulder and avoid a tree in the middle of the trail but that was the line to take. I made the right hand turn to take the boulder route but I still hadn't gotten my foot clipped in from the quick run..... As I came over the back side of the boulder my foot slipped off my pedal, I nose wheelied down the face of the rock, clipped my handlebar on the tree and I was launched off my bike. All the spots I had gained by taking the options were soon lost. I got back on my bike only to realize my chain was off. I was now in last place and I had a fight in my hands! This all happened within the first 10 minutes of my 1st lap. I found flow for lap #2, #3 and #4 and was passing riders. I gained 15 spots, came around to start my last lap and got pulled! I was so bummed! I was determined and fought hard to make up time and felt like I was still gaining on riders in front of me. Georgia Gould (Luna) took 1st and Emily Batty (Subaru/Trek) came in 2nd. Erin was dealing with a sprained thumb and didn't feel great out there and pulled herself from the race after lap #1. The fans were amazing and lined the course at every turn. They were loud and sooo motivating!!

After our race was over we got to be the cheering section for our teammate Steve Dempsey, who raced in the pro men's category at 3:30 pm. The course is not only awesome to ride/race but it is also a great spectators course. Steve finished mid pack but I really think he had the best fans..... us!! Racing done, we headed back to camp for some food and "beverages". We had a friendly game of "mini putt"..... Let's just say I should stick to biking!! We woke up the next morning and went out for a ride to spin the legs before making the trip back home. No matter where we were, on bike, walking, golfing, sitting in the van........ Steve made a point to keep up with his daily flexing (as seen in the pics below)!!

We had such a fun weekend. It's always great to have my team mates by my side!!

Cheers,

Sue

The "short" and "flat" of my Canada Cup Race..........

2011-06-08T23:22:00.002-04:00

I'm not really sure just when my weekend began last week. I really feel like it started last Wednesday, because that's when I started packing and getting food ready for our family camping weekend. We were heading to Barrie for the Ontario Cup #3 which was also a Canada Cup at Hardwood Hills. With the van packed to the roof we were on our way early Friday morning. We arrived at the Barrie KOA around 1:00 pm. We unpacked and made our Kabin home for the weekend. The temperature was perfect. It was sunny with blue skies!

I headed over to the venue to take in a few laps of the course. I loved it! It was a bit technical, the climbing was spread nicely throughout and the downhills were fast! I was pleased with my pre-ride, happy with how I felt and pumped to race!

My daughter and I in 2010 and 2011 Quiring kits!!

On Saturday morning we awoke to a small thunder storm and rain. Yes, we are in Barrie..... it never fails, rain is almost a guarantee! The overcast, grey, rainy sky kept us in the Kabin. The kids used this time to chill and watch a couple of movies. I used this time to go pick up my packet and sign in. By noon the rain had passed and the temperature had dropped. The terrain in that area is like a sponge and as quick as the rain came, it didn't sit for very long. The day passed by quickly and before I knew it I was heading to bed!

Rainy Saturday morning kept the kids inside watching a couple of movies!

On Sunday, race day, I woke up feeling well rested. Our start time for the Canada Cup is 11:30 unlike our normal 1:30 O-Cup start time, so I had to get moving earlier than normal. The weather was perfect racing weather! I warmed up, and after calming my nerves, my legs were feeling ready! I went to the staging area and felt relatively calm. An odd feeling, but I actually had my nerves under control. There was a call up and because I had not done any other Canada Cups or International races this year I was called up toward the end. Not a great starting position but I knew there was lots of time up the opening gradual climb to make some moves. The race got off to a comfortable pace. I made my way up the side mid-way up the pack. I was good with that. As we hit the first set of single track there was a bit of a bottle neck so the pace slowed right down. As the course opened up again I passed a couple more girls. There was no need to panic, I felt good and knew there was lots more racing to be had. Now at about maybe 7 minutes into the race, we were in a single file heading down a single track descent. I had ridin' this line throughout my pre-rides without a hitch. I dropped of a rock but I was slightly to the left of the line I had been riding and I didn't quite clear the rock that was to the left. Pshhhhh....... not the sound I wanted to hear!!! First came the sound then came the noticeable feeling of a flat!! "I'm out" I shouted. I had no cartridge on me. I really wasn't ready for a flat. With the encouragement of spectators I continued to pedal with the flat another km to the tech zone. I got off to walk a couple of times over rocks, including the "Boneshaker". This was not the time to ruin the rim! I came into the tech area and Jay scrambled for a pump. We got the tire seated. I had hoped that my Stans sealant would seal the puncture...... until I realized it was actually a slice in the sidewall about 1.5 inches long. The air was still leaking out but I thought maybe once I got moving it would seal it? So off I went far back from the other elite women racers. I had lost alot of time. 3/4 of the way through that lap my rear tire was flat again. I pedalled back to the tech zone, where Jay was waiting with a tube and new tire. With the tire changed I was back on my way. I realized I had lost over 15 minutes in tire drama and thought maybe I should pull myself but I really wanted to race! I got one more lap in, never got lapped but because of time restrictions got pulled! Ya that sucks! Sooooo many lessons learned! Congrats to all on a good race on such an awesome course!

Paiten taking care of my last minute stuff as the elite women wait in the staging area!

After leaving the venue I had so much energy that I needed to get rid of. What better way to do that than by hitting some local trails. I was told of some trails that were not really well marked but that were great to ride. With my kit still on I headed out to explore. It was awesome. Some of the most fun trails I have ridden, from a loooong technical rooty climb, to tight swithback descents, to fast steep drops, stream crossings through the water and over bridges. I couldn't stop smiling. I only got lost once and that was at the end of my ride trying to find my way to the parking lot.

Bike riding therapy after my short lived race!

The kids staying cool!

Overall, it was an awesome weekend. We had alot of fun regardless of my "short" and "flat" race!

Cheers,

Sue

Finding Balance,O-Cup #2...........

2011-05-16T22:36:00.000-04:00

Ontario Cup #2 was held in Woodnewton, just outside of Uxbridge. This is the second year for this race venue and it has only gotten better. To say it rained is an understatement. However, Chico Racing made a course that could withstand the downpours and any wickedness mother nature wanted to throw their way. We opted for a hotel instead of our usual camping. I love to "tent it" but not so much in the cold/rain.

Jay, Kim and I made the 5 hour trip early Sat. morning. Once at the race venue, we headed out to pre-ride the course. Under cloudy, rainy skies and temps around 60 degrees F I did one lap. The course was fast and fun. In a few spots there were options you could take.... "hard" line or "easy" line. Amongst the options was a man made downhill rock garden. I came up to it and without looking at it or hesitation went straight down it. Cool option! Overall, the trail was in good shape with some slick sections. After pre-ride we headed to the hotel to "chill" the night away.

It rained all Sat. night and through to Sunday. We headed to the venue around 11:00 am so Kim could be warmed up for her 11:45 start. I chose to stay warm and dry in the van until approx. 12:45 when it was time for me to get on the trainer. I did my warmup under the shelter of a large umbrella as the rain continued to sprinkle down. My legs felt a bit lazy but I assumed that was just nerves and they would kick in come race time.

The elite women's field was strong as always and at "go" Mandy Dreyer took the holeshot. I got in behind her and we headed up the opening grassy, wet, false flat, double track at a steady pace. As we turned the first corner and came up to a short little climb, I slowly started to fade from the 3 lead girls. I instantly had no recovery, not much punch and my technical riding was also suffering. I was riding stiff and fighting the bike. So I stayed steady.... but slow and steady does not win the race!! As I came through lap 1, I was sitting in 6th, just behind 4th and 5th. There was a short bridge that crossed a small stream of water. The entry and exit were both mud pits with ruts. I entered in a rut on the left side, got both tires just narrowly on the edge of the bridge. I looked at the water below and lost my balance and went right into the stream. I managed to land on my feet with water halfway up to my knees, my bike laying sideways submerged in the water. I made my way out, through the mud pit on the other side. I tried to get back on my bike only to realize my chain was off. I quickly fixed it and began to pedal through the rest of the muck. At this point I felt a bit deflated. My recovery was suffering, my feet frozen, and the leaders were now well into the distance. Pity party over I needed to re-focus. I had a steady pace through lap 2 and 3. Come lap 4 I found some energy and flow. The course was riding faster and I was having fun again. I caught 5th place Laura Bietola (3 Rox Racing). I finished 5th. I am pleased with my effort and persistence. Congrats to all on a good race.

Cheers,

Sue

Ontario Cup #1.........

2011-05-02T10:02:00.002-04:00

Jay, Kim and I drove up on Friday to Mansfield, Ontario, for the Ontario Cup #1. Unlike last year, where I had a couple of races under my belt before the first O-Cup, this was my first race of the season. We kept things pretty relaxed on Friday and Saturday. Kim even hopped on my 29er to get a feel of what big wheels are like. She was all smiles! Hopefully in her search for a "new" bike she will consider this option! ;o)

The weather was nice all weekend and the trail conditions were perfect. The course was flowy, with open gradual climbs, a couple of pitchier climbs and some very fast and fun downhills!

After a decent night's sleep it was race morning. I woke up with instant butterflies. I had almost forgotten about the nerves that come with the excitement of the season opening race!

A couple of people had said that the pro race time had changed from 1:30 to 1:45. So I started my warmup at around 1:00. While out riding around, I started to see fewer racers warming up, so I thought I would go back to the starting area to double check the time. Well, the call ups for the elite men was in the process. I little taken back by the fact that the race would be starting at normal 1:30 time, I quickly found Jay for my bottle and went over to the assigned staging area.

The field was huge! I was in the back of about 20 elite women. Amongst us were some of Canada's top national and world ranked racers. No doubt the race would be fast from the start. So with my 27 minute warmup, I was soon called up first. (Winning the overall series last year got me plate #100) Once at the line the count down was quick and we were off!

My start was good and a group of about 7 of us held together up the opening climb. Once we got to the top my recovery was not great but I managed to hang on with the leaders for a bit. Throughout the first lap I felt strong, my climb and recovery was okay but I had good flow and stayed steady. Going into lap #2 I was in 6th place. Throughout the second lap I went back and forth with a couple of Quebec riders, with Mandy Dreyer holding a steady short distance in front of us. Toward the middle of lap #3 I was able to break away from the Quebec riders and spent the lap on my own as I would for the forth and final lap. I was pleased with my effort taking a 6th place finish.

Elite women results:

1 104 Emily Batty - Subaru−Trek from Brooklin

2 109 Amanda Sin - 3 Rox Racing from Collingwood

3 132 Mikaela Kofman - 3 Rox Racing from Toronto
4 116 Laura Biettola - 3 Rox Racing from Greenwood
5 111 Mandy Dreyer - from Hamilton
6 100 Susan Stephens - from Harrow
7 129 Kristina Laforge - Équipe du Québec : Cyclone d’Alma
8 131 Andréanne Pichette - from Québec, QC
9 102 Heather Gray - Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s CC
10 130 Valérie Meunier Équipe du Québec : Cyclone d’Alma
11 103 Tricia K. Spooner Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
12 107 Celine Foreht Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s CC
13 110 Cayley Brooks Trek Canada MTB Team/New Lowell
14 106 Ashley Barson - CoachChris.ca / Multisport−Zone
15 123 Carmen Sweet - Reactivated Racing from Oshawa
16 108 Kristen Lake - Sweet Pete`s from York
17 115 Mélanie Bernier - CoachChris.ca / Multisport−Zone
18 105 Erica Bota - Wild Bettys from Sudbury
DNF 112 Kaitlin (KK) Michener - Lapierre Canada from Meaford

Kim had a great race, racing as a Master Expert, staying steady through her 3 laps and closing the gap on the leaders from last year!

Great job by Chico Racing. They constantly provide top notch race courses and it shows by the level of talent that Ontario has.

It was such a fun weekend. I'm happy to have the 1st race out of the way and look forward to an exciting year!!

Cheers,

Sue

"Glowing".................

2011-04-27T22:35:00.000-04:00

The new kits are in! Neon pink and yellow...... "glowing"!! My bright pink ESI grips match perfectly!

Cheers,

Sue

Malden 1st Timer..............

2011-04-20T21:06:00.002-04:00

What do you get when you bring an eager "Albertan" to Malden Park? Well let the pictures tell the story!! I met Tricia at the gym. She has been a dedicated "spinner" in my spin classes since they started. She is always willing to push herself beyond her "comfort zone", I knew I had to get her outside to ride. So with her stay here in South Western Ontario coming to an end, today was the day for her to meet Mt. Malden. She has travelled across Canada, coast to coast, and has seen mountains in the true sense of the word. With Malden being the only climbing the area has to offer, I was not sure what she would think.

We rode up to the park, did the perimeter paved path and I pointed out some of the climbs. Let the ride begin! She was fearless and up for any challenge. As we approached a climb her motto.... "What's the worse thing that could happen? I get off the bike and walk?" Well she can climb, and even conquered the infamous 3 tier on her first try! I brought her to a couple of the sketchier downhills, her motto.... "What's the worse thing that could happen? I fall and get hurt?" Well she rode them without hesitation, no problem.

As we were wrapping up the ride I had one more thing I wanted her to ride. So we were riding the inner bowl area and I suggested that Tricia try to use momentum to get up a quick punchy climb to bring us to the top of the toboggan hill. We pedalled passed a couple walking their dog. The dog refused to listen to them and decided to take chase after Tricia, bringing her pedal stroke almost to a stop. The dog finally ran back to its owners but Tricia lost momentum going into the climb. I pedalled to the top of the climb and watched as she made a go at it. With about 2 pedal strokes to the top, she came to a stop, held a short track stand and failed to unclip and enjoyed her first wipeout! I knew she was ok, I chuckled and of course I had to pull the camera out!! From there it was down the front of the toboggan hill through an unexpected puddle and to the parking lot where we ended our ride.

Thanks to Tricia for a fun ride and for the laughs. Happy and safe travels as she makes her way North and East! Hopefully before returning out West she will swing by this way and take in another Malden ride!!

Cheers,

Sue

Duck X'ing............

2011-03-28T22:06:00.000-04:00

On my county ride today I came across 6 mallard ducks. 5 male and 1 female! I passed them as they were swimming in the ditch. I took a picture, they waddled out, crossed in front of me as though I didn't exist and then they finally decided to take flight!

As I got close to home I recognized a couple of kids outside....... my own! Nelson out on his dirt bike playing in the mud and Clayton zooming around on a scooter! All we need is sun and everyone is happy!!

Cheers,

Sue

WRCS and the "Egg"streme Tie Break Challenge..........

2011-03-27T20:23:00.001-04:00

Today's ride capped off the WRCS. We rode from pavement to trail pushing a casual pace. One highlight of the ride was the tie break challenge! There were 3 riders tied in points for the series overall (for info on points bikeSABBATH) The winner was decided today. With an egg on a tbsp, they had to pedal up the gradual climb at Malden Park. No eggs fell victim, all three riders made it to the finish but it was Ian who hammered home to victory (rider in black jacket, red shorts). Bragging rights for the year is awarded! A huge thanks to Adam (Mr. bikeSABBATH) for putting together another year of winter rides. The turnout on the cold Fri. nights and Sun. mornings was amazing! Great people, great rides, and great fun!! Good luck to all in the upcoming race season. Hopefully we will cross paths on the road or trail soon!

Cheers,

Sue

Two wheels..........

2011-03-21T13:54:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, being Sunday, I rode with the bikeSABBATH group again. For a few pictures and ride details check out their blog.
My post today is not so much about the ride but rather a very brief conversation that took place on the ride. So there we were riding down the road two by two. I was riding next to a gentleman that I had never met. Me on a mountain bike and him on a road bike. We were about second from the front and he began with a bit of small talk. He then said, something along the lines of, "I'm surprised the mountain bikes haven't been put away yet." To which I replied, "Well that's what I ride, that's all I ride, in fact I don't own a road bike. Mountain biking is what I do." There wasn't much more said after that. I understand he meant no harm in what he said but it got me thinking. Why would one assume that everyone has a road bike? I don't assume everyone has a mountain bike. Understandably the majority of the riders out on the Sunday ride are roadies, so perhaps it was a given that we all had a road bike? Even if I had a road bike that wouldn't mean my mtb gets "put away". Interesting! Just happy to be riding on two wheels, mine just so happens to have nobbier/wider tires!

Cheers,
Sue

A week with mud, rain, snow and ........skin?.........

2011-03-19T14:02:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The change in weather and atmospheric pressure has reeked havoc on my head! A migraine set in on Monday and other than about an hour of reprieve it just lingered. Tuesday, I woke up feeling better, went through my usual routine and then headed out for a massage. On my way there my migraine decided to revisit me! I got to my massage appointment late and Tenille (my massage therapist greeted me with a smile). My massages are not always of the relaxing kind but I know that it's for the best. In fact she admitted to getting her kicks watching me squirm! To think I go back for more punishment! From her table I went to the chiropractic chair where Dr. Reimer worked his magic. Okay I don't know how they do it but I do know that whatever they do I always leave there feeling sooooo much better. No more headache for the rest of the day or the week for that matter. Yippee!

With my body already feeling the effects of the massage and the adjustment I met Kim Tuesday afternoon. We planned our first climbing ride of the year! The feeling of the mud, muck, and energy zapping grassy/gravel climbs made me realize my legs have awaken. We managed to get a good ride in before the rain moved in.

I got home in time to make supper, take a shower and then head out to teach an indoor cycling class. It's amazing what a day "off road" does for my mind.

Fast forward to Friday, March 18, 2011

What a difference a few days make! I could not pass up riding outside yesterday. It was windy but it was 60 (deg. F)! That meant a couple less layers. I even stripped my knee warmers off 5 minutes into the ride, exposing my bare knees to the fresh air. There I was in shorts pedalling by some snow filled ditches! Odd, but I loved it! I think spring weather has sprung!!

Cheers,

Sue

Another bikeSABBATH......

2011-03-14T13:28:00.000-04:00

My phone alarm went off at 7:30 am or should I say 8:30 am on Sunday! I forgot about the time change, good thing it was the phone alarm that I set. I don't like the idea of losing an hour but I do like the idea of an extra hour of daylight! I got out of bed, let the dog out, made coffee, made breakfast, got ready, packed my bike bag, dropped the kids of at my parents and arrived at Kim's (15 min. from home) by 10:15 am! We car pooled to the meeting parking lot for the bikeSABBATH WRCS ride.

This was only my 3rd bikeSABBATH ride of the year. There has been 16 rides this year and my attendance as you can see has been poor! However, the overall participation for the Sunday rides has been great! The group has been consistently getting out 20+ riders and the weather has not always been very kind to them.

This Sunday drew similar numbers and the weather was comfortable, overcast but dry! We headed down back roads, paved and dirt, most of the time I had no idea where we were. I just rode and at times engaged in some friendly trash talking! :o) All in good fun. There was only one flat to report, courtesy of Mrs. Kim!! We had stopped at a convenient store, refilled our drinks, had a snack and once we were about to get moving again, she looked down to see a deflated front tire!! Of course everyone gives Pak the ol' "husband come fix the tire" shout out! So he stepped up to it and in true team fashion a couple of guys pitched in. It takes a village........ ;o) So back on track, we rolled on!

What a fun ride. Fresh air does the body good!

Cheers,
Sue

2011 Colour..........................

2011-03-10T14:41:00.002-05:00

Here it is..... the 2011 team kit as seen on the NEW team website! This year's uniform is bold and colourful. It was a team effort and Erin managed to put it all together. The process of uniform design seems endless, ideas form, colours are contemplated (the initial was black, grey and pink), colours change, designs change, small details added..... it all starts to look the same.... The best part however is that through that process came a great product, a style of its own, bold, daring and it had each team member's approval! Team work behind the scenes!

There is more to be noted about this upcoming race season...... our sponsors!!
Quiring Cycles is the title sponsor once again. I am going into my second season racing/riding on a Quiring and I have made it very clear..... best bike/ride I have ever had!! So needless to say I am very pumped!
With the team once again is Stan's No Tubes. Anything/everything Stan's just makes me smile.
ESI Grips is a product sponsor. This is my second season using ESI grips and for me there is no other!
Pearl Izumi is also a product sponsor, new shoes to put down the hammer! Be sure to check out our feet!!
crankbrothers..... I have used their pedals for a few years now.... love their product!
Our kits are through Louis Garneau, comfortable, durable and high quality.

Now if we can get rid of the remainder of the snow, no more rain, get some warmer weather and have dry trails I think it would feel a little more like the race season is almost upon us!!

See you on the trails soon enough!

Cheers,

Sue

Teammates 2011.............

2011-03-02T12:36:00.002-05:00

Things are coming together for the 2011 race season. Jersey design finalized, awesome support from sponsors and once again a great team!! I was lucky to meet up with my teammates a couple of weekends ago for some shopping, hiking, a few drinks, a delicious dinner and a great night out!!

I started out meeting Erin at her place and then we did a bit of shopping, had lunch and then went for a hike at Tree Farm in Novi. The trail was covered in ice so the short distance took us a long time. Erin has a great eye for photography, so she tutored me through camera/picture taking 101! We then headed to Ann Arbor where we met Jason Lummis and Steve Dempsey at Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness. There we got to take a quick peek at Steve's awesome new Quiring Ti frame with a Lefty fork! We then ventured over to Knight's. A restaurant known for it's amazing food/steak!! (FYI - It is located in A2, just down the road from Vet's Park. Tailwind does a a double, Sat./Sun. cyclo-cross race there. - Thanks Erin for that tid-bit of info) The parking lot was packed and there was no doubt that we would have to wait for a table. The 55 minutes passed by quickly as we had some "cheer" sitting around the overcrowded bar. It was well worth the wait because the meal was superb!!

Dinner done, Erin and I headed back to her place. We chatted, had a few Bells (Hopslam) and next thing we knew it was 3:30 am. I couldn't believe that it was that late. I never stay up that late! I ran a few errands Sunday morning and then headed back home. I got home just before the crazy snow storm swept the area.
I am so happy to be back with the team for this year! Jason Lummis continues playing a supporting role as he progressively recovers, Erin Vicary will be ready to attack the trails early, Steve Dempsey is already south preparing for a real breakout year, and Scott Quiring just wrapped up at the NAHBS in Texas.
I will be updating my blog with the 2011 team sponsors real soon!

Cheers,
Sue

Eagle Eyes...................

2011-02-20T21:04:00.000-05:00

With the temperature near 10 degrees Celsius, I got outside to ride on Friday! The first time all winter that my toes stayed warm! Mind you I put on a pair of thin wool socks, chemical heat warmers, winter riding boots and booties! That may seem like overkill to some, but for me it was perfect!

I went down some back concessions and then made my way down Cty Rd 50 (it's the lake road, running parallel with Lake Erie). There it was in mid flight, the amazing bald eagle! I have been lucky capturing some pretty awesome wildlife on my bike rides, but the bald eagle for me takes the cake!! I am mesmerized by this bird. I watched as it took perch in a nearby tree. It remained there unimpressed with me as I dismounted my bike and walked under it. Wow, so beautiful! The image of this bird remained vividly in my mind as I plugged away against a crazy strong headwind home! Nature at it's finest!

Cheers,

Sue

2011 Sponsors.........

2011-02-17T11:03:00.000-05:00

Great team, great sponsors, just finalizing a few things and then I will let you know who's on board!! So exciting!!

Cheers,

Sue

Snowdays and Snowshoes.........

2011-02-10T13:28:00.001-05:00

Even though I have tried, there is just no way to fight mother nature! I had been hoping that this cold weather would move through quickly. The more I fight it the harder it fights back. Just when I thought "yep I've lost the battle", I re-thought "if you can't beat it, join it'"

The kids had a snow day.... the first time since my kids have been in school that they actually closed the school for the day. It was kids (+1 adult) just being kids !!! :o) We had snow ball fights, made snow-angels, built forts, and just rolled around in the white flaky cold stuff!

My oldest took the younger ones out for 3 wheeler rides. They all (4) joined forces to make a snowy downhill off the back deck stairs which lead to a ramp at the bottom. They took turns going down on the crazy carpets or their snowboards..... The crazy carpets really didn't work out so well as my daughter shows in the picture!

I also decided to try snowshoeing!  With all the drifting in the open fields and the snow covered rail to trail (a.k.a Greenway) it made for the perfect 'stomping grounds'. I was joined by Kim (who has more practice than I on the 'shoes') and we just wandered about. After a few blunders I got the hang of it!

The snow flakes were falling in huge clusters, there was very little wind and the temps were perfect. I really enjoyed the hike, the shoes, the weather, and the company!!

I hung out with family and friends and I must not forget our dog!! O.K. Maxxis (a.k.a. Max) is sort of like "Marley" (Marley and Me). No matter how much trouble he gets himself into, he always smiles. So I buckled up my snowshoes and headed over to Max's kennel. He was crying with excitement.... he knew we were going for a walk. He is not the best on the leash and with the snowshoes on, I knew this could be interesting. I kept him on the leash until we got out in the open fields and away from the road. The snow was deep, in fact deep enough that he was scraping his belly on the snow as his legs sank through. He was working hard and listening great as we walked side by side!! The deep snow was tiring for him. When we turned around to head home, he figured it all out! He no longer walked next to me, he walked behind me. At first he stepped on my snowshoe which made me do a face plant into the snow, but once he figured out the safe distance that's where he stayed. Walking behind me made for an easier pass for him! I would walk in zig-zags and he would follow. I had a grin from ear to ear! I think that was our best hike together to date! Now to teach him how to behave like that when we go for a bike ride!! ;o)

Thanks for reading and stay warm!

Cheers,

Sue

Uncomfortably numb........

2011-01-27T11:45:00.001-05:00

I thought I would document every step I took in effort to keep my feet warm for my ride. This is a common complaint amongst riders who brave the cold winter weather outdoor rides. I love the fresh air and hate the monotony of sitting on the trainer! This year however has posed a real problem with my feet! I am all but losing hope on a remedy for warm feet. I have tried many things and products. So, for this ride I used a combo of ideas and suggestions that people passed on to me.

Step 1 > Anti-perspirant
Step 2 > Battery powered heating socks
Step 3 > Chemical heat pack
Step 4 > Plastic bag
Step 5 > Winter riding boots
Step 6 > Booties

The Ride:
My feet started off warm'ish'. Which is an upgrade from cold. I thought I had it, this really could be it. Not even 10 minutes into the ride, my feet were feeling cool'ish'. I moved my toes around trying to generate heat. The heated socks were working but overall my toes could not keep the heat. As my ride progressed and at about 40 minutes my toes were uncomfortably numb, could no longer wiggle them and in fact they were starting to feel like they were swollen!! My right foot was worse than my left. I unclipped and alternated with one legged drills to help relieve the pain from my feet. At 45 minutes I decided I had to start making my way back home. My feet were only getting worse. :o(

The Verdict:
All that effort and.......... well I can't say it was a complete waste of time going through 'operation warm feet'. In the past it would take @ least 3 hours before I would regain feeling and function in my toes. After this experiment, once I got home, I took the layers of foot coverings off only to reveal that my socks were wet from sweat, and my feet only chilly to touch. So why the heck are my toes having the sensation of being frozen, swollen, and numb??? Frost bite in the past? Temperature sensitivity from using the chemical heaters tooooo many times? Bad circulation in my extremely long digits? I just don't know. Perhaps there is a medical explanation/diagnosis?

The Future:
Until I get this issue under control I really don't know what the future holds for my winter outdoor riding. I will evaluate how my toes react to the cold in other footwear on a daily basis ;o) ..... As of this moment the outlook looks grim! I am sitting here in my house with wool socks and Acorn slippers on and my toes still aren't happy.

The Reality:
I can never turn down a fun winter ride! So my toes will continue to be hassled by the winter temperatures. I will continue to search for ways to keep them warm. I will probably even complain about them again on my blog. In the end, time will go by quickly and the sub zero weather will pass and my feet will once again rejoice and be happy that they will no longer be uncomfortably numb!!

Cheers,
Sue

Reaching your goals......

2011-01-16T20:02:00.000-05:00

"The secret of all great undertakings is hard work and self-reliance." - Gustavus F. Swift

Cheers,

Sue

Fricken Freezin' Ride #1.........

2011-01-02T18:23:00.000-05:00

The Rig

2006 Jamis Dragon pieced together as a 'make shift' single speed. Too lazy to change out the1.8 mud tires that were mounted on some old Mavic wheels. 33 tooth chainring up front and 12 teeth in the back. Just enough gear to hang on but will need a bigger ring when the pace picks up.

The Wear

It never matters how many layers you put on as the feet are the first to go. Winter riding boots + 2 pairs of wool socks + heat packs = still not enough.

The Refreshment

Chunks of ice from the water bottle followed by a much needed cup of hot coffee at Talula Cafe.

The Ride

Brrrrrr....... 3.5 hours after the ride, I am still trying to get the feeling back in my toes!! It was the first ride in the 2011 WRCS. We couldn't have had a colder day to start off the series! But really, what do you expect when the series is properly titled "Winter Ride Challenge Series"? The meeting spot was Talula Cafe. There was approximately 35 riders out. How awesome is that? Some familiar faces from last year and many new ones. However, with everyone sporting balaclavas it was hard to figure out who was who. The ride went from pavement, to gravel and back to pavement over the 56 kms or so. I started off with cold feet and hands but once we got moving the hands warmed up. My feet went from cold to frozen, to numb, to oddly warm tingles, to frozen and then when I took my biking boots off...... they went to pain. That's when I realized just how cold my feet really were. The thing is I know I wasn't the only one with cold feet, so comfort in numbers I guess! The ride was a nice casual conversation pace. We wrapped things up with a cup of coffee. Winter riding...... I like, even if it is fricken freezin' out!

Cheers,
Sue

Hootin' Holidays............

2010-12-26T16:37:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays!!

After a couple of days of visiting, eating, eating and more eating, I had to get out for a ride. So there I was on the back county roads and a hawk flew overhead. I thought to myself, that would be cool if it landed nearby for me to take a picture..... and no sooner then the thought, I looked to my right and snuggled about 10 feet off the road in the dense hedgerow was this owl! It stared at me as I squeezed my squeaky breaks and fumbled for my camera. So awesome yet a bit eerie!

Cheers,

Sue

Snow plowin'.......................

2010-12-20T11:33:00.143-05:00

My outdoor winter riding has officially begun! The 'race bike' is now put away and my 'winter ride' was tested. I have been way too laid back for the last month and a half! My training schedule has never really been structured and at this point I am actually feeling the need of some organization and discipline! So my guilty conscience piped up and set me straight! Get your a** on that bike! Done!

With the temps sitting around -3 (deg. C) I knew to bundle up. I rubbed some sport balm on my legs, put on the layers and off I went. I started my ride on some back country roads to get the legs warmed up but the initial slight headwind made my cheeks tingle and numb up a tad. I thought ooh maybe a balaclava would have been a better choice. However, once I warmed up, my frozen face began to thaw a bit. For the most part the roads were clear. After about 45 min. I decided it was time to leave the comfort of pavement behind and hit the Greenway (rail to trail). The snow had blown over hikers boot prints, and snowmobile tracks. I should have clued in when I got about 200 meters on the trail that I was going to be in for a long, tough 5 kms!! But if you know me once I get something in my head I don't back down! So I fish tailed, slid, and hammered through the snow. I was moving along pretty good for about the first 1.5km until I came the open sections of the trail which allowed the blowing wind to form some sizable snow drifts. I was forced to a complete stop. As I got off my bike to hike through the mound, I saw movement in the field not even 1/2 a km away. There was a herd of deer.... I'm talkin' like 20+! I let go of the bike to grab my camera and my bike stayed completely upright! No tree or kick stand required. I witnessed a couple of large bucks get up on their hind legs to battle while the doe's went about their business, unimpressed. The group eventually caught site of me and slowly made their way through to the next hedge row. Just a reminder of why riding outside beats the trainer any day. I put the camera back in the pocket, got myself unstuck and trudged on. By the time I reached the next cross road I was over-heating. Nothing like snow plowin' on your bike!! Great power and balance workout! So I broke the ice with my first real winter ride...look'n forward to many more!!

Cheers,

Sue

Offerings

2010-12-04T12:25:00.004-05:00

Right now with a little down time I find myself parusing the internet and looking at gear to see what 2011 has in store. Scott Quiring at Quiring Cycles has a bunch of new offerings including a 4" travel bike with a Ventana rear end, headtubes to accomodate Cannondale Lefty forks, headtubes to accept tapered steerers and of course BB30 bottom brackets. Check it out.

http://www.quiringcycles.net/news.html

Cheers,

Sue

Freedom........................

2010-11-22T13:10:00.001-05:00

Some people grabbed their umbrella and ran to their car, I grabbed my bike and rode in the rain!

Cheers,

Sue

Taking it in "stride"........................

2010-11-21T13:46:00.000-05:00

The bike has been semi put away for a few weeks (to be taken out for fun rides) and the training has shifted to maintaining!
I am my own coach, my own guinea pig and my harshest critic. I get grumpy when I am not doing some type of physical activity. After each season I evaluate everything I need to improve on and having a more well rounded fitness is a must. I tend to function best when I'm on the bike because my body gets used to that position and I ache when I walk or attempt to run! So a couple days ago I took it in stride! I put the ipod on and headed out for a brisk walk. A slower pace then what I'm used to. That slower pace let me take in everything around me. I felt energized and found myself looking up at the sky something I really couldn't do on my bike. I looked at my shadow and I thought it was odd, there was something missing. No wheels, no pedals, no frame, no bike! Just my 2 legs, my arms, my body! I finally realized that I can let go of my focus for a moment, not evaluate how my body feels, not look at my heart rate or check my speed, I can just be. I am recharging, exactly what I needed.
I look at my bike and smile. Ya, ya my walk is refreshing but my bike takes me to places my walk doesn't and to speeds that leave me wanting more.

Cheers,
Sue

Iceman Cometh 2010...............

2010-11-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

The 2010 race season has officially come to an end. My fourth Iceman Cometh race wrapped it up. Iceman is a 29 mile point to point race that goes from Kalkaska to Traverse City, MI. Over the years the numbers have jumped and this novelty race brings out some of the top pros in North America.
It has been a great season and I'm ready to take some time off from 'training' and go out for some fun rides...maybe get some good lights and take up night riding.

Nov. 5, 2010 - Day before the race - Snow - high of 27 degrees F (in Traverse City)
Jay, Paiten and myself picked up Erin around 11:00 a.m. As we got closer to Kalkaska, the temps were noticeably colder. As we travelled a little further west towards Traverse City, the snow was falling, falling hard, and accumulating!! It looked like this year was going to be a real Iceman! We checked into our hotel and then headed over to the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa where the bike expo and packet pickup took place. After a few go rounds at the expo we headed out for a late supper and an early bed time!

(Friday night Expo - Quiring booth)

Nov. 6, 2010 - Race Day - Clear skies - high of 47 degrees F (in T.C.)

After a good nights sleep we awoke to a very cold morning and the ground frozen. I began thinking of how the melting snow would affect the course conditions. Will the ground still be frozen for our 2:30 start time? If not we were in for a muddy battle especially after a couple thousand racers hit the course before us.
I lounged around most of the morning just trying to keep all in check. We rolled into the parking lot near the start around 1:20 p.m.. Erin and I got our layers on and went to take a look at the start of the course. The beginning of the course appeared to be in great shape and fast.

The pro women field was strong, including the 2008 winner Amanda Carey (Kenda) and also Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Trek). 20 or so took to the start line and before you knew it the countdown from 10 turned to GO!!! The start was very conservative. I went out to the front on the open road. Soon after Amanda popped in front of me and took a pull into the wind. She then moved over and there I was next in line to take the wind in the front for a bit before she resumed the front once we hit the sand. There were a few attempts by a couple riders to go to the front but they were always countered by Amanda. There was a group of about 7 of us that stayed together for a while. I sat in second for a bit as Amanda set the pace.  As we entered into the double track she went to the side and I was back in front and took a long pull. At that point I felt really good and remained comfortable. Amanda and a couple of other riders soon jumped out in front and I filed in happy with my position.
As we neared Williamsburg Rd. (almost 2/3 of the way) the trail conditions quickly changed. We were no longer dealing with packed down sand it was mud, muck, mud, muck!! At that point I was sitting in 4th, right behind 3rd and not far behind 1st and 2nd who had opened up a little bit of a gap. Trudging through the mud eventually took a toll on me and my recovery and we lost sight of the top 2. There were 4 of us battling back and forth for position. The slick conditions forced me to ride too conservative and I dropped alot of speed. Without the momentum I was working alot more on the ups which took a toll on me. I was no longer feeling all that great.

At about 5 miles to go I dropped my waterbottle which was still half full. 4th and 5th soon slipped away.
With 3 miles to go things went from bad to worse! I really just wanted to stop, get off the bike and walk. I started to feel odd.   My face got numb, my teeth were tingling and my vision blurry. I seriously wanted to stop, lay down and have a nap!!
As I came into the finish area at Timber Ridge the crowd was cheering like crazy. The atmosphere at Iceman is just awesome. I crossed the line in 6th place, dismounted, walked over to a nice patch of pine needles and sat in a daze trying to collect myself. My teammate Steve Dempsey came over to me and handed me a much needed drink.   It took a while to regain my senses and I apologize to anyone who tried to talk to me after the race. I was really out of it.

Congrats to all the pro women who finished and Amanda Carey on taking her 2nd Iceman win.

Bell's/Quiring results:

Sue Stephens - 6th - pro women

Erin Vicary - 11th - pro women

Steve Dempsey - 19th - pro men

Scott Quiring and Christina - 11th - tandem

Jason Lummis - Sidelined and recovering

Jason Jones - sick

John Meyers - injured

Joe Brzuchanski - 1st - expert men 38

Race over....... we headed back to the hotel where I took a warm shower and a long awaited nap. The nights festivities would soon begin!!

Nov. 6, 2010 - Sunset on the season post race party @ The Loading Dock
Live music (The Orbitsuns), Bell's beer (including Hopslam), dancing, big crowd, singing, teammates and friends. Good times!

(Oh what a night!)

(Surprise.... we closed the bar!)

Thanks to Steve Brown - Iceman Promoter! Another amazing production/race/event!! Congrats to all the racers and thanks to all the spectators for the LOUD cheers!!

So there you have it. 2010 has been an awesome year. I have had sooo much fun racing and riding this year with my new team and on my 29er Quiring!

Let the off-season fun rides begin.

Cheers,

Sue

If you haven't seen the promo video for the Bell's/Quiring MTB Team after party here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rB-QXKGEO8

Peak2Peak.....................

2010-10-26T07:49:00.000-04:00

Ya, I guess you could say I'm a little late with this post race report!!

This was my second year racing Peak2Peak at Crystal Mountain near Traverse City, Michigan. The event was very well organized and promoted. The turnout was awesome for participants and spectators alike.

Jay and I made this race a day trip. I didn't remember from last year that it was a 5 hour drive each way! Being the passenger though, I guess is not as bad as being the driver! (Thanks Jay) The weather was awesome and the pro-women field was strong.

The course was mostly flowing single-track, not very technical, with lots of room to pass. Toward the end of the approx. 18 km lap there was a couple of climbs. The first was a pitchier, punch up, switch back climb and the second was about 1 km long, up the back of the ski hill. The back to back climbing put a bit of hurt on the legs.

It's always exciting to take to the line next to my teammate Erin Vicary. Without going into too much detail here's how the race played out:

Lap 1 - The race started on a gradual grass climb, I took the holeshot and led up the climb. For 3/4 of the first lap it was myself (Bell's/Quiring), Erin (Bell's/Quiring), and Danielle Musto (Salsa Cycles) in a line. Johanna Schmidt (Haggerty) caught up just before the climbing at the end of the lap. By the end of lap 1 I had put about 20 sec. on Joanna and Erin and Danielle had dropped back a bit.

Lap 2 - I put a bit more distance on second place Johanna. I was slowing down and not feeling all that great. The course for the most part was pretty flat which forced you to be on the gas the whole time. My lap time had dropped quite a bit from lap one.

Lap 3 (final lap) - Where's the finish. The fun that I had for the first two laps was quickly turning into counting down the miles. I think that the long season is catching up to me and the body is due for a break. The finish line finally came and I crossed in first place for the W!

Post race we sat around with fellow cyclist, had a couple drinks, and a quick bite to eat. The atmosphere at the race was awesome and both spectators and racers had a great time! Thanks to Tad Peacock, Endoman Promotions and his crew for a great event and a huge thanks for equal payout!!

Overall, the course is super fast and flowy and the final long climb is the deal breaker which separates the field. The climb is taken out of the course for the earlier categories so it makes for a great course for racers just getting into the sport. I would highly recommend racing the Peak to Peak to everyone.

Results - Top 5:

1st - Sue Stephens - Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycles

2nd - Johanna Schmidt - Haggerty

3rd - Danielle Musto - Salsa Cycles

4th - Erin Vicary - Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycles

5th - Laura Webb - Haggerty

Cheers,

Sue

Country Cross 2010..........

2010-10-14T17:28:00.000-04:00

Just as the mountain bike race season wraps up, bikeSABBATH is promoting 2 great cyclo-cross races in the 'county'!! For more information contact countrycx@gmail.com

Cheers,
Sue

"It didn't make me cry".................

2010-10-06T21:24:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we travelled to northern Michigan (hold out the back of your hand and point at the top of the middle finger) for the 1st Annual Crybaby Classic mountain bike race. Jay and I picked up my teammate Erin Vicary Friday around 11:30 am. We took advantage of the fact that we all had the day off and could get away for an overnight trip. For me that in itself is rare because for many of the MI races I do them as a day trip with no chance to pre-ride. It was kinda nice to be able to take our time and not feel rushed to get to a race. We arrived at the race venue, Nub's Nob Ski Area around 5:00 pm. It was a clear almost picture perfect fall day with the fall colors in full swing. The setting reminded me of the annual Boyne XC that took place this time every year. I loved racing Boyne. It was by far my all-time favourite Michigan courses. Who knows maybe The Crybaby Classic will now fill that void.
The registration was well organized and super friendly at sign-in and package pick up. As a bonus, Erin and I each a won a twelve pack of beer as a door prize which added to our stash. Nice way to start the weekend.

We got dressed in our gear and headed out at a casual pace to get a feel of the course. Just as we had heard, the course was WIDE OPEN and fast. Throw in there a short section of single track mixed in with some loose sand to make up the six mile loop. As it turns out, one lap equaled about 270 meters of momentum free climbing so we had our work cut out for us come race-day.

After the pre-ride we went out for a very filling dinner and then retired for the night early! So much for all the extra beer. Even Jay went to bed early...no camp fire I guess.

Race morning came and so did the nerves. The start of the women's race was scheduled for 12:40 pm. We had a good breakfast compliments of the Comfort Inn and then we tried to chill as much as possible. Jay did a once over on both the bikes and we were at the venue about an hour before start.
The skies were blue but temps very chilly!! At about 40 minutes to go we started our warmup. The legs felt a little lazy and weren't exactly ready come start time.

After a small delay, the fog horn blew and we were off. The course started with a short starting loop which went through a small sand pit and up a gradual grass climb and down an open downhill. We then went through two track that was flowing and fast in the woods, followed by the first longer gradual climb. The course continued with gradual ascents and descents. At about 3-3.5 miles in (of the 6+ mile course), we hit the "Crybaby Climb". I led the way as people/fans gathered along the climb cheering us on. Their cheers and enthusiasm was definitely encouraging! The "Crybaby Climb" was a steady climb with various pitches, and about 3/4 of the way to the top the climb turned pretty steep. The pitch up top made things hurt a bit more!! The climb seemed to separate the field and there was only one other women with me. I kept the pace steady and she ended up riding most of the first lap tucked in behind me.
The last 1/4 of the course seemed to flatten out at the top of the mountain and it ended with an awesome fast singletrack (only singletrack on the course) downhill in which opened up to the descent down to the lap/finish area. I pulled away from the second place woman toward the end of lap #1. Lap #2 and 3 I put a bit more distance on the field by pushing the pace a bit more and not getting caught up in the beautiful fall foliage. Lap 4 came and I found myself drifting off into la la land and was just cruising along. I snapped out of it when a stick got stuck in my back wheel. Off the bike, out with the stick and back on again!! I picked the pace back up again and flew down the final chute and through to the finish line.

My teammate/video co-star, Erin finished shortly after in 5th for a share of some of the prize money.

Overall the promoters did a fine job and a big thanks to the MANY volunteers!! Next year equal payout for the pro men and women is a must and the addition of some single track to the very promising venue would keep things interesting!!

Top five:
1 Sue Stephens, Bells Beer/Quiring Cycles
2 Johanna Schmidt, Haggerty
3 Heather Spencer, Racing Greyhounds
4 Danielle Musto, Salsa Cycles
5 Erin Vicary, Bells Beer/Quiring Cycles

Great day, great fun and of course NO TEARS!!!

Cheers,

Sue

Freshly Squeezed (a week ago)..........

2010-10-04T12:06:00.000-04:00

The 16th Annual Liberty Squeezer was held on Sept. 26, 2010. The weather cooperated this year, unlike the muddier conditions of last year. The turnout was great and the women's field strong.
They did a call up of a few elite men and women, which gave me a great starting spot, front and centre. The start went well and I was able to grab wheel of the lead group. Once on the gravel double track there was a pile up crash which I avoided to the left and maintained my position 2 wheels behind the lead women, Emily Batty (Trek World Racing). My legs felt good and I was where I wanted to be to set myself up for the first section of single track. Only to have things take a quick turn!! The 2 guys in front of me hit a dip in the ground the wrong way and one guy went left, the other endoed right and I tried my best to avoid them but still clipped one of them. This sent me on the ground. I tried to make a quick recovery only to see that my chain had fallen off. At that point many racers had past and I knew I was going to have to battle back to hit the single track before them. I made several passes but ended up behind a few riders taking a slower pace then what I had wanted to go. The single track was so tight that I had no option of passing. That's all part of racing. Finally once it opened up I made some passes. It became more of a chasing game at this point.
The course was fun, tight, with a mix of climbing and super dry!!! In the end I came in about 3 min behind Emily to take 2nd place.
Liberty Bicycles did a great job with the event. So much fun and well organized.
Top 3:
1st -Emily Batty - Trek World Racing
2nd - Sue Stephens - Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycles
3rd - Laura Bietola - 3 Rox Racing

Cheers,
Sue

Addison Oaks Fall Classic

2010-09-15T22:28:00.001-04:00

At this point in my season my focus is to maintain my fitness and have fun with the few races that I have left. The Addison Oaks Fall Classic (promoted by MMBA) fell well within that. Great weather, awesome, fast, flowing course (thanks to the endless trail maintenance of Pauly), good competition and to top things off I got to line up next to my teamy, Erin!!

I was happy to see that the women's field had 7 racers!! At go I grabbed the holeshot, we stayed in single file until we hit the first section of single track and then I was able to pull away from the field. I was having alot of fun just riding the trails that the racing aspect was a bonus!!

The final result went as follows:

1st - Me (Bells/Quiring)

2nd -Erin Vicary (Bells/Quiring)

3rd - Tara Jansen (Farm Team Racing)

Cheers,

Sue

Side note #1 - Our teammate Jason Lummis is recovering at home. He is dealing with alot of pain but remains positive. I hope to see him back in the saddle and playing head games with the competition as only he knows how!!!

Side note #2 - Referring to my write up about Ore2Shore I now have the name of the Farm Team racer; Scott Chambers, and the Voodoo Cycles racer; Rick Doornbos!! Thanks guys once again!!

End'o's' of summer...............

2010-09-02T00:19:00.001-04:00

(Clockwise from left: the gradual gravel climb to the top of the 3 tier, Diane and single track, Diane after her endo, Mary's scratch on the back of her ankle)

It's hard to believe that we are already wrapping up summer. Although that does not mean bike season is being wrapped up!! After provincials I took a well needed few days off the bike to find fresh legs again. I also took this opportunity to convince a couple of my friends to give mountain biking (with climbs and singletrack) a try. Diane and Mary were great sports. I'm not sure if they realized what they were getting themselves into but they were up for the challenge. I picked up Diane around 9:00 a.m. Monday and then swung by Mary's to pick her up. Our destination was Malden Park. I knew Malden had alot to offer for their first time. We did a lap around the perimeter of the park and went over gearing and breaking. We made our way up the gradual gravel climb to the top of 'Mt. Malden'... no problem! We then ventured through the singletrack. All went well.... until the one of the last stitches of single track and let's just say it sort of 'fell apart'! I was leading them down a gradual singletrack downhill, Diane right behind me and then..... well she wasn't there. I hear her shout "Sue, my tire came completely off". I instantly started to giggle as I ran back toward them. Yep there Diane was laying in a picker bush, Mary standing behind her with not just a tire in her hand.... Diane's whole rear wheel had come off!! She experienced her first endo!! I was impressed! Not so impressed that her wheel had come completely off, so I quickly put it back on and we were on our way to the final set of singletrack. We got through the quick little climbs and headed for the gradual off camber downhill...... I was leading again, came to a stop to wait and could hear, "Are you okay?" So I went running back only to find Diane on the ground again. The bike on one side of the trail and her on the other. Yep, my giggles set in but this time I reached for my camera. I snapped a couple of pictures and then realized I should ask her if she was ok! The fact that she was still smiling gave me no need to worry. Her leg got a nice bruise from the tree and her knee a small scrape. I was truly proud of her. Endo #2 in the books! As the ride was coming to an end we went up a paved road, only to have Mary's foot slide off her pedal and whack her in the back of the ankle.... another giggle from me. I guess part of being a mountain biker we see many wipeouts, bruises and scratches so this is their welcome to mountain biking! :o)

We had so much fun and I can't wait to take them out again. They were real troopers! Their new marks on their bodies were brag worthy and it didn't take them long to show them off!!

Cheers,

Sue

Please check out the team blog, updates on my teammate Jason Lummis are posted. Thanks!

Out of ICU.........

2010-08-28T08:32:00.000-04:00

Our teamy Jason is out of ICU!!
Please check out the team blog and the team facebook page where updates are made on his recovery and well wishes are of abundance!! Thoughts, prayers and positive vibes are much appreciated!!

Cheers,
Sue

My Teammate - Hit-and-Run..........

2010-08-26T16:14:00.001-04:00

(Jason, Zach and Kathy)

Please keep my teammate Jason Lummis in your thoughts. He was involved in a hit-and-run last night. Angry is an understatement!! Hopefully he will have a speedy recovery.

The following is an article from Heritage Newspapers:

By Daniel Lai, Heritage Newspapers

Friends and teammates of Jason Lummis, a professional mountain biker from Pickney, are hoping someone in the community will come forward with information leading to the arrest of the driver of a vehicle that struck Lummis while he was riding near Dexter on Wednesday.

Lummis, who is a member of the Bell's Brewery-Quiring Cycles Professional Mountain Bike Team, was commuting by bike to his Pinckney home from his job at Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness in Ann Arbor when he was struck by the vehicle and left on the side of the road.

The accident happened on Dexter-Pinckney Road near the intersection of Wylie Road in Dexter Township around 9 p.m. There is currently no information on the vehicle, which fled the scene.

Lummis was found by two motorcyclists in a ditch with massive blood loss, teammate Jason Jones said.

Lummis was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor with internal injuries and a broken back. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.

Anyone with information on the accident or the vehicle that struck Lummis can contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s tip line at 1-734-973-7711.

Sue

Provincial Championships - Bitter-Sweet

2010-08-23T00:11:00.002-04:00

BITTER = The Ontario Provincial Championships were this past weekend which means the last race in the Ontario Cup 2010 race series. The new venue in Uxbridge was awesome, unfortunately my race wasn't.

(Provincial Overall: Sue Haviland, Me, Heather Gray)

SWEET = I finished the year 1st overall in the Ontario Cup Series. A goal I set at the beginning of the season and I am pretty happy with that. So for 2011 plate #100 belongs to me!!

Cheers,

Sue

Ore2Shore..................

2010-08-19T21:49:00.004-04:00

(At the start Zac Lummis gives me a good luck high 5)

Unlike many of my posts I will skip all the pre-race story telling and head right to the race recap!!

Location: Marquette Michigan
Race: Ore 2 Shore
Length: 48 Miles

This was my first time racing the Ore 2 Shore and I was lucky enough to get a preferred start. Approximately 700 riders were lined up and I was positioned in the ‘2nd row’ behind some of my teammates.

I was expecting more of a roll out start and that was furthest from what happened. The start was fast, real fast. Everyone was going “balls out” and I wasn’t ready for it. To make things worse I missed my pedal. I found myself getting passed on both sides. Once I did get clipped in, I joined in and ramped up to speed trying to limit as much damage as I could.

The first bit of the race was on pavement through the Town of Negaunee. I settled in and kept pace with the riders around me. I knew that I had lost some time on the stronger women in the field and at this speed was spinning out of gears.

We arrived to the dirt where I found my own steady pace and attempted to grab some wheels. I quickly realized that this is a race you don’t want to find yourself on your own. Finally a group of about 6 riders came up at a good clip and I grabbed on. I rode with this group until we caught the next group and then faster riders moved on and we dropped the others. This pattern continued for a bit where a few of us were continually bridging gaps from group to group.

As I pedaled on I found myself surrounded with the same riders. One was a guy in the green shorts that had “Fueled by coffee” across the top of his shorts (I think his name was Greg?). He was one of the originals who said “Sue hop on, don’t do any work and we’ll pull you”. Don’t get me wrong I was working and went to the front to help bridge gaps with other groups.

Moving on I still had no idea what my position among the women was. People shouted out I was in 3rd but then I passed a couple more ladies. I knew that Jenna Rinehart would be up front, so I had no idea where I really stood.

From there I really can’t remember too much of the course other than the varying types of terrain that stuck out in my mind. Somewhere in the early going there was a long stretch of water over gravel double track. The water came half way up my shin with each downward pedal stroke. It felt refreshing but had a rather dirty smell!! After that there was the infamous hike up Misery Hill which I heard so much about. Off the bike my calves were not happy. The slow going hydro cut line followed and then a sandy downhill where I came to a complete stop. Once again I had to get off the bike and run losing some time and the group I was riding with. I quickly got back on the bike and I really had to give it to catch back up.

At about ½ way through the course Jay and my teammates’ support crew, were there to give me a bottle. I was told I was in 3rd and about 1.5 minutes behind 2nd who wasn’t that far behind 1st. The next thing I remember was a road section made of some gradual climbs. At that point I found that the set pace in my group was slowing. If I wanted to catch 2nd I would have to jump out and push the pace a little more. I saw that there was another group not too far ahead so I went off the front and closed the gap. A few others followed including the guy in the Voodoo Cycles kit. It seemed like from there on Voodoo guy and I worked together, closing gaps on people ahead and then pulling away.

Final 7 miles…….. As I passed a couple of guys I was informed that 2nd place girl was not too far ahead. We then came up on a Farm Team racer and he gave me a quick look and told me the Trek girl was right there (2nd place, Sara Kylander Johnson). I grabbed his wheel and he put the hammer down. We made a pass on the left and I heard a “noooo” from her as we passed by. I expected her to hop on so I continued to push. I got through the final sand pit downhill, up the wood chip hill only to have to unclip as many riders got bogged down by the sand at the top. A quick jog up and I was back on the bike for the last few miles. Now I was on my own out in the last open stretch directly into the headwind. I lost track of the Farm Team racer but was lucky enough to grab a draft from a racer in a Trek uniform (not Sara) until we hit the parking lot pavement. At that point I was still unsure where 3rd was and wondering if there was going to be a need for a sprint. I took a quick peek back and 3rd wasn’t there and pedaled across the line in 2nd!!!

I was pretty happy with the race. I have never ridin’ 50 miles not even in a training ride. I just don’t have the time. The race was fast and fun. I had little wipeouts and perhaps some silly mistakes but that’s part of racing and I dealt with it.

Top 3 women:
1. Jenna Rinehart (Specialized)
2. Sue Stephens (Bells Brewery/Quiring Cycles)
3. Sara Kylander Johnson (Trek)

My teammates:
2. Scott Quiring and Christina Peek (mixed tandem – soft rock)
17. Jason Lummis
39. Steve Dempsy
40. John Meyers
Training for 2011 - Erin Vicary

What a great experience!! I had an awesome weekend with my teammates/friends and families. Looking forward to doing it again.

Cheers,

Sue

All but "one"................

2010-08-09T23:38:00.007-04:00

(Me smiling at the fact that the finish line is only about 30 ft away!)

"One” referring to the number of Ontario Cup races left in 2010!

This past weekend was O-Cup #6 at Kelso Conservation and Ski Area, Milton, ON. With this being 3.5 hours from home and also the closest O-Cup to us we decided it would be a day trip.

Jay, Kim and myself headed up to Kelso Fri. morning to pre-ride the course. I was expecting Chico to run the course backwards as they did a few years back, where it was a switch back climb opener and the gravel maintenance road downhill. Once the course map was posted on –line I saw that the course would be run in the usual direction as it has been in the last couple of years. Opening climb would be the double track gravel service road to the top of the ski hill. (A climb I have grown to like!) However this year, in comparison to last, there was a little less climbing per lap!! Apparently it was to give us a break and take it easy on us racers in preparation for Provincial Championships which are only 2 weeks away. The Championships are at a totally new venue in Uxbridge, which I believe is just north of Toronto.

Back to the pre-ride….. We (Jay, Kim & I) decided that we would do a lap together to get a feel of the course and redo any sections that offered multiple lines. The first lap didn’t start off so well…. The gravel was really loose on the climb and I found myself spinning out the first time I tried to cross over from one side to the other. Once on top of the escarpment the course was a bit of a false flat. Into the trees, and it was fast and flowing. Some single track lead to double track and back to single track. There were a couple of tighter technical sections but overall a really fast course. At one point the course came back down a quick sandy/loose dirt downhill and ended with a tight, off camber left turn right back up the hill. This is where it stopped short of last years line, which took us all of the way back down to the bottom of the hill and through the grass before it sent us back up. Anyhow, we decided it was best to scrub a lot of the speed early, well before making the sharp turn and go wide. No problem. (pre-ride) After the 1st lap, I went out on my own and put it together. Again I found myself losing traction on the opening climb and spinning out in that one small section. I continued on and finished the lap in a comfortable 27 minutes give or take. After the two laps I thought I had a pretty good handle on the course and decided to just wait for Jay and Kim and head back home. Sunday would come soon enough!!

Race day. We left early enough to get Kim to the venue an hour and a half before her race. Pak decided to join us for the trip. He was part of “their” annual shore to shore ride the day before and combined a night out with the boys and beer. In fact he was pretty much just getting home when we got to their house at 6:30 am. Needless to say he wasn’t racing today. I guess we'll call him support crew! Kim races in the Expert Women’s category and has been steadily improving after a serious car accident last year put her in the hospital.

I began my warm up and felt pretty good, a bit relaxed and fresh. I guess sleeping in my own bed instead of on an air mattress can have that effect. About 10 minutes to race time I made my way to the start area. On my way I came across Kim who was walking rather gingerly. She had wiped out in a rocky section and bruised herself up pretty bad. She said a guy stopped half way through the short rocky down hill and couldn’t move quick enough out of the way. I couldn’t tell if it was a look of pain or disappointment on her face. I think perhaps a bit of both. Not exactly what I wanted to see before the start of my race but I knew she’d bounce back, she always does.

In the starting corral there was small talk with fellow racers. I was called up behind the Series Leader, Sue Haviland (Norco Evolution). Following us, next to be called up were a couple of riders from New Zealand. They were racing in preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Quebec. It’s always nice to see new faces at the start line.

1 minute, 30 sec., 15 sec. and then go! I had a good start, grabbed the holeshot and lead up the loose gravel climb. Once again I hit the same spot that I did on my pre-ride and spun out. Oh well I continued on at a comfortable pace without losing much time and expected someone to push my set pace. That pace held and I made it to the top in front. My recovery at the top was good and I continued to push at a steady rate. I realized that the group must have been strung out behind me and that only a couple of racers were with me. I raced on, through a section of single track that lead to open field and then I took a wrong turn. Thanks to Ashley Barson (CoachChris) who was right behind me, she gave me a quick shout out to let me know that was the wrong way and I quickly turned around and went back out to the front. We continued to ride together through the lap and at "that one off-camber climb" section (that I cleared in pre-ride), I totally botched it up. I could not see the line I had seen during the pre-ride. Off and running for a few strides. Back on the bike, only to mess up the next rooted climb. Geez, I couldn’t get it right. Ashley passed and so did Sue H.. I got clipped back in and then regained my spot in the front. Lap 1 down, 3 to go…… I felt good going into lap 2, up the gravel climb………. and wouldn’t you know it, yep, spun out in the gravel. Quick tap down, couple of steps and back in the saddle. I stayed out front for the remainder of lap 2. Lap 3, I pulled away a bit more and yippee made it passed the loose gravel part on the climb. Lap 4 went the same. I came across the finish line in first, fist pumping and still with a bit of energy to spare!! What a fun, fast course.

Final Results:
Sue Stephens (Bell’s Beer/Quiring Cycles) – 1st
Katherine O’Neill (New Zealand MTB Team) – 2nd
Sue Haviland (Norco Evolution) – 3rd

I am looking forward to Provincials. There is no doubt that Chico Racing will have an awesome course in store for us at the new venue. Can’t wait for 2 weeks!!

(Podium shot with my bike before the OCA warned me about bringing the bike up. I didn't realize that is not allowed. Oops! Nice bike though!!)

Cheers,

Sue

"Bell's Belles" Part 2...................

2010-07-27T21:40:00.002-04:00

Stony Creek TT

The alarm went off at 6:30 am Sunday, a bit tempted to hit the snooze button but the excitement of racing outweighed the comfort of Erin's pull out couch so I dragged myself out of bed. I made my way to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee, Canadiana style ( Tim Hortons). While quietly fumbling around I took a quick peak outside and it looked like it had rained quite a bit overnight?? I got to thinking what Stony would be like today after all the rain...Last night I had decided to play it safe and keep the aggressive 'mud' tires that I used for the Tree Farm Relay on my bike just in case Stony was hit hard. Besides if I was to change them, it would be up to Erin and I to re-Stans the other set and I haven't yet mastered that feat on my own. Soon Erin was up and she made a good breakfast. I packed all my stuff, made H2O bottles, got dressed and we were out the door by 7:35 am. Jay was meeting me at Stony Creek with Kim, Paiten (birthday girl) and Clayton.
We arrived at Stony at around 8:30. Jay did a quick once over on my bike, I got registered and as a true friend forced Kim to start at the same time as me!!
Erin and I warmed up together and checked out the beginning of the course. Unfortunatley I don't get out to ride at Stony as much as I would like. There are so many good riding spots in Southeastern Michigan that are a little closer to the bridge. Michigan is awesome. From the short pre-ride I learned that there is a long double track that leads up to the first water crossing, which I found to be totally rideable. Due to time, that was as far as we got so the rest of the course will just have to wait until the race.
My start time was 10:22:30. Kim and I lined up and watched Erin head out 30 sec. ahead of us. With her off it was our turn. Count down and go. I heard him say go, but my legs didn't get the message. The course began with an energy sucking, power sapping stretch of grass that lead up to the double track. I had to really push to get up to speed and it wasn't long before Erin was out of sight. From the grass the course turned to a gravel double track and to the first water crossing. Through the water and up the muddy bank and I was back on the gravel double track. I think it was about 7 kms into the course and I caught up to Erin. She was moving pretty good. I passed Erin and I planned to spend the rest of the TT just trying to be smooth and find some flow. The double track eventually narrowed to some really fun/flowy single track containing a few super slick wooden bridges. The rider in front of me slid out on the bridge which served as a warning to slow it down. I pretty much crawled across the bridges and managed to stay upright. By this time I realized that much of the course had dried up nicely and I went overkill on my tires. I should have taken a chance and changed to the Barro Races.
Shortly after I came up to the section where I had taken a face plant last year at the marathon race. That mistake bent my front wheel and I had to DNF. I made sure that this time...... I took the left line!! Much better...less blood.
The remainder of the ride went without a hitch and I finished the 13 mile loop in 53 and a half minutes.
Soon after Erin comes in and she is pedalling, that's a good sign, but wait, there's blood!! She had taken a wipeout on one of the bridges and got a nice cut on her forearm and bruised up her inner thigh. I guess that was her 'welcome back to racing'. Not long after Kim came through and finished strong.

Results Expert/Elite Women:
Sue Stephens (Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycles) - 1st
Lynn Alfs (Paint Creek Bicycles) - 2nd
Dana Baurhenn (Wolverine/ACFstores.com) - 3rd
Erin Vicary (Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycles) - 4th
Kim Rocheleau - 5th

The weather couldn't have been nicer. Jay and Paiten went out for a ride on the course and the rest of us just relaxed. I chatted up with fellow cyclists. I'm really happy with the Quiring 29. It has seen a good variety of terrain from steep climbs, long climbs, tight single track, technical riding....I think it is the right bike for just about any type of XC race/ride!! But more importantly it is simply fun to ride.
Seemed like we had just arrived and now it was time to pack up. After an awesome weekend of hangin' with my teammy' she headed her way. Jay, Kim, the kids and I did a quick 'Meijer run' and headed for the border.
This weekend was a bit of a break from the normal seriousness and intensity that comes with XC racing. I am fortunate to live close enough to Michigan to enjoy some really good riding and the always friendly competition.

Erin is fast just standing there!! Look at the hair.

Final stretch of double track before the finish!

Cheers,

Sue

"Bell's Belles" Part 1..............................

2010-07-26T11:14:00.002-04:00

Tree Farm Relay 2010

Wow, what a weekend, where do I begin? I had been looking forward to this weekend for a couple of weeks. The weekend forecast was threatening to ruin my plans but to no avail!! So here’s how things played out……………

Friday night I packed things up, clothes, H2O bottles, nutritional stuff, bike bag, bike, and all the things biking that goes with it!! Yep, it was a biking weekend of sorts!! But this was a weekend that would also mark the return to racing of my teammate Erin Vicary!!!

I woke up at 5:00 Sat. morning to get to Erin’s house for 7:00 am. It was overcast and the weather looked grim. As I got closer to the Canadian/USA border there was a big rainbow in the west. Early morning rainbow perhaps could only mean good luck?!? As I got closer to Erin’s it was raining……but the excitement of what we were going to be doing could not be dampened!! You see, a couple of weeks ago Erin was asked to race at the Tree Farm Relay with the Dark Horse racing team and the invite was also extended to me. With 2 spots needing to be filled on 2 separate Dark Horse teams, Erin and I jumped at the opportunity.

We got to the venue in Walled Lake around 8:15 am. No rain just cloudy and the temp. was warm. The event was about riding/racing and even more importantly, having fun!! Erin and I were doing the first 2 laps for our teams. Each lap was about 10 miles. It was a Lemans start, a short run (after 4 kids, hmmm) down the hill to where we had put our bikes. I had never ridin' there before so other than getting a quick description of the course I would just ‘literally’ go with the ‘flow’! The announcer counted down and we were off. Not in a crazy explosive kind of way by no means. It was a slow jog to the bike because I just wanted to stay upright!! I got to my bike safely and headed out to the trails! Considering all the rain that had been dumped on the course in the days and hours leading up to the event, the course was in good shape. Obviously mud was expected and muddy and slippery it was…. but it was all very much rideable. It was tight and twisty and about 95% single track. Soooo much fun to ride. Kudos to all the hard working trail maintenance folk! Job super well done!! I finished up my 2 laps and passed the baton (lei) off to Andrea (one of my teammates for the day). My bike was muddy and my white kit was, well, polka-dotted!! Erin finished up her laps, upright and smiling!! Her first race back, a success!!

We chilled the day, under the DH tent, saw cloudy skies, rain and finally clear skies but the one thing that stayed consistent was the spirit of this awesome sport and the excitement of every rider. The day was capped off with awards, Erin and her team took the win. Thanks to the Dark Horse girls for including me. It was great meeting new people and catching up with people I hadn’t seen in a while. I had a blast!! Erin and I decided to head out around 4:30pm.

We went back to her place, where I would also being staying the night because our weekend of racing had only just begun.

We washed our bikes, Erin made a delicious supper, chatted and by 10:30 pm, we were both ready to crash for the night!! I settled in my cozy bed and within 10 minutes was out like a light, dreaming of what fun tomorrow will bring!!

Cheers,

Sue

Ontario Cup #5 - Buckwallow..................

2010-07-14T13:19:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday, van packed, utility trailer in tow, 5 kids loaded in the van (original plans were to only bring the older 2 but we decided heck bring all 4 and my oldest sons bf), we were heading down the 401 by 6:30 a.m., making our way to the Muskoka’s!! It was for Ontario Cup #5. The venue was Buckwallow Cycling Centre in Gravenhurst.

Buckwallow is so unique and different from the rest of the O-Cup venues. The climbing is minimal in comparison but technical, with roots and rocks even on the double track climbs. The single track is boulder/flat rock/root covered. The trail maintenance is amazing thanks to the Buckwallow manager/owner Mike. I was soooo excited just to get out and ride on the trails.

Another bonus to Buckwallow is we can camp right next to the venue at the KOA. Upon arrival, we set up camp, aka ‘Fort Stephens’. It was very humid and the mosquitoes were out in full force. Lots of bug spray and After Bite was needed!! Anyhow, I made lunch and then to the trails I went. I did a couple of laps on the vaguely marked race course (later realizing I had missed a couple of single track sections).

Thursday, late night, through morning brought rain, and lots of it. The ground however is very sandy and is a natural sponge.

I took Friday off the bike and just relaxed and chatted with fellow cyclists/friends. We also got a visit from my cousin Cindy and husband Phil (Xavier too). They were staying at their cottage nearby. How awesome!! The kids swam, fished, biked, hiked, and kept themselves busy.

Friday night, we sat around the bonfire with the company of fellow cyclists Mandy and Gabe Dreyer. Bell’s - Oberon was not in shortage as Jay introduced it to Gabe and the 2 enjoyed a ‘few’. Good conversation and laughs and next thing you know it’s 1:30 a.m.! Late night but worth it!

Saturday morning came, sunny skies, and Jay was up and ready for his 9:00 ride with Phil. My plan was to pre-ride around 1:00 pm with a small group of guys. I was looking to get some ‘line’ ideas from Eric Jobin (expert rider). We left right on time, Eric, Tony (expert rider) and 3 cadet men riders. I have never pre-rode a lap the way we did, slower, trying different lines, analyzing the course along the way. The trails were in great shape, the rain had all been absorbed. The tips were good and I learned to read the trail a bit differently. Thanks guys!!

Fast forward to race day………..nothing out of the ordinary, same routine, warmup, and to the staging area we went. My kids had raided my biking bag and found my extra Bell’s/Quiring ‘kit’ articles. Paiten in the wind jacket, Clayton in my other riding jacket and Bell’s trucker's cap, Nelson in my vest! How cool is that?? My cousin Cindy came back to cheer me on, the boys ran along many sections of the course cheering and Paiten took her spot as my ‘feeder’ in the feed zone.

At ‘go’, well… we went! I wasn’t able to get clipped in right away but eventually did and went back and forth with Sue Havilland (Norco Evolution). She got to the single track first. She is a very strong rider and a great technical rider. I stayed within 15 sec. of her after the first lap. I overheated a bit after lap 1, took my gloves off on lap 2, small wipeout ‘sans’ gloves put small pickers in my right palm to be taken out by my teeth, took a water ‘dump’ going into lap 3, got my right grip (silicon) wet and had to do the death grip on it until it dried! (No biggie lesson learned, gloves stay on, water dump before overheating). Over the next 3 laps Sue H. continued to pull away a little at a time. I made several blunders, silly mistakes and had a few wipeouts but overall was pleased with my race. As I mentioned this course does not have a lot of climbing, however, it beats and fatigues the entire body, but I loved it!!

Final Results (Top 3):

Sue Havilland (Norco Evolution) – 1st

Sue Stephens (Bell’s/Quiring) – 2nd

Heather Gray (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny’s) – 3rd

As a side note: A couple of years ago I dislocated my elbow at Buckwallow, at the same spot this year, a rider broke his leg and Mandy Dryer went down within the first 5 minutes of the race and fractured her wrist!

We had such a great weekend that I wasn’t ready to come home. In fact it is now Wed. and I still haven’t totally finished unpacking! Maybe I should just load it all back up and head back north to the Muskoka’s where I know good times always await!!

Cheers,

Sue

Fun Ride............

2010-07-02T11:04:00.000-04:00

With my team-mate Erin Vicary back on the bike, we met up for a super fun ride, followed by a couple beers, and dinner!! Good times!!

Subaru Cup, Wisconsin................

2010-07-02T10:44:00.001-04:00

The who’s who of USA pro women mtb racers were in full colour in Wisconsin last weekend. WORS was hosting their Subaru Cup, which this year also doubled as a USA Cycling Pro XCT national race.

Jay and I drove through the night on Thurs. (actually, he drove I slept)! We arrived in Wisconsin, at the venue (Nordic Mountain) around 7:30 am (6:30 am WI time). We checked out the terrain and the on-site camping. The place was quite, you would never have known that there was going to be a big race the next day.

We opted to camp at a camp ground about 10 minutes away. It was a good choice because it was spacious, rustic and had pine tree covered sites. Peaceful, and quiet just what I wanted!! So we set up our tent, took a 2 hour nap, and then went back to the venue to sign in and pre-ride the course. The course was sooo much fun. It had alot of switch back climbing and switch back descents, very little free speed, so the short 5 mile lap made you work.

That night we enjoyed comfortable temps, good eatin’ and a great night’s sleep. I was so out of it that I didn’t even hear the thunderstorm that roared through in the middle of the night.

Saturday, race day came real fast. We made a quick tire change (GEAX Barro Race), did some fine tuning on my bike and we were at the venue by 11:30. My warm-up flew by and by 12:15 pm they were already calling the pro women to the staging area. After call up I found myself in the 3rd and last row. With the national anthem sang, “GO” was inevitable. Some of the racers charged up the opening climb faster than others. I found myself in the “others” category. A few tire rubs and tight squeezing through sections and I settled into the climb. Once again my recovery was not that great and I rode a steady pace, not a race pace. I almost feel like I’m beginning to sound like a broken record. Time to reevaluate things! My effort was good enough for 16th.

Top 5 podium spots went as follows:

Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) – 1st
Willow Koerber (Trek/Subaru) – 2nd
Heather Irmiger (Trek/Subaru) – 3rd
Amanda Sinn (Canadian – 3 Rox Racing) – 4th
Katie Compton (Planet Bike) – 5th

We headed for home early Sunday morning, taking a small detour through Kalamazoo, MI to pick up some Bell’s beer. Just what I needed!! :o)

My week has been busy, kids are now out of school for the summer and I have chosen to take the week off from training! Hopefully I will have fresh legs by Sunday and I can resume with some harder effort training rides.

Cheers,

Sue

Ruby Sunday.......................

2010-06-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

A last minute decision to race in Michigan on Sunday had Jay and I getting up early and making our way to Port Huron. In actuality it may be one of the closer races for me, only about 1hr45min drive from home. Tailwind promoted the race at Ruby. It was a low priority race for me but the chance to race/ride at this venue had me going on a weekend I had planned to take off from racing.

Ruby is original, the climbing is minimal (comparatively speaking to the O-Cups) but non-the-less still challenging. There is a water crossing in which you cross 2 times per lap. This year the water levels were higher than in the past and it came just above my knees. The trail maintenance and layout is awesome thanks to the hard efforts of Team Sandbag.

The mission/goal for the day was to be consistent, smooth and work on my flow. That was exactly how I raced and the outcome was in my favour. I took top spot on the podium and I was happy that I added the race to my weekend.

It was alot of fun and the Michigan mountain biking scene is so friendly. My team-mate Steve Dempsey put in a good effort, on his fully rigid Quiring, and came in 5th in the strong men's elite field.

Ruby Sunday was just what I needed!

Cheers,

Sue

Mountain View, Ontario Cup #4................

2010-06-08T16:45:00.089-04:00

(The new leaders jersey matched my bike!!)

Hard to believe that I am actually home on a Sat.!! It's been 3 weekends in a row of camping/ riding/racing and I must say it feels good to be home.

Last weekend was O-Cup #4 in Midland, Ontario. The venue was at Mountain View. The course's opening climb up the ski hill (only to be done on the first lap) got the blood in the legs pumping. The course also had some longer singletrack/switch back climbs that were challenging and fun. I pre-rode the course on Fri. night (included 2 wipeouts and my first scratch on the top tube of my frame!) and again one more time on Sat. It was a bit tacky, fast and flowing. No more rain and the trails would be perfect for the tires I was hoping to race on, GEAX Barro Race. Fingers crossed!!

Jay and I pulled the tent out and called that our home for the weekend. The rain came in Sat. night around midnight and it rained off and on all night till' later in the morning Sunday. A tire change would be in need.
Race went off 'sans' problem. After lap 1 I was still trying to find my flow and feel. I was sitting in around 8th. The course had sections of 'muck', ruts, and some slick ridin'. Many wipeouts, tap downs, runs, and lots of bruising on my legs! I made some passes and by the time I crossed the finish line I came in 5th. It was not my best or smoothest race but I was steady and consistent.
So here I am with a few weeks off before my next O-Cup race. I hope to fill in the void with some races a bit closer to home and perhaps venture a bit further into Wisconsin, for WORS.

Cheers,

Sue

2010-06-08T15:27:00.001-04:00

The 'Bone Shaker' Canada Cup 2010 - Hardwood Hills

Suck it up buttercup.......................

2010-05-31T07:17:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was the Canada Cup/Ontario Cup #3 at Hardwood Hills in Barrie. Being that I had ridin' there last weekend I felt confident in the course and was ready to giver'.......... or so I thought.
Jay and 3 of the 4 kids went up on Friday, set up camp and then I headed over to the venue to put in 1 lap. Things felt good and I was soooo pumped about the course!! I just chilled on Sat. as Jay and Paiten went riding.
Fast forward to Sunday.......................
I woke up with some nerves (normal) and an upset stomach (not normal). I ate breakfast and headed over to Hardwood around 10:00 am for my 11:30 am start. My warmup was uneventful, my legs ready only for steady state and my heart rate higher than normal. No zip...............hmmmmmm!! The Elite Women had 30 racers!! Canada was represented from coast to coast. The opening climb was very dusty and at times I found it hard to see the ladies around me!! Lap one went by and I was not feeling well, 'brought up' some fluids, no recovery in the legs, used the single track to recover from the climbs, what happened to my pre-ride pace let alone race pace and flow?? I lost a few spots from start to end and never regained them. On the bright side, I did suck it up and finish!! I came across the line in 14th. No need to say any more, it is what it is!!

Cheers,

Sue

(pictures to follow)

Two Girls' Two Wheel Stories.................

2010-05-31T06:58:00.093-04:00

This post is about a week late but better late than never!!!!

With no racing on the Canadian long weekend (which was last weekend), and the weather forecast looking perfect Kim and I decided on a last minute bike weekend. Us 'two girls', headed up to Hardwood Hills, in Barrie to ride the Canada Cup course.
The weather on the way up was rainy, we could only hope for clearer skies as we got closer to our destination. No rain in Barrie!!
Our home for the weekend was a Kabin at the Barrie KOA. Upon arrival Sat. early afternoon, we unpacked then went to check out the course at Hardwood. It had all the markings of a true cross country race course. The trails were sooooo dry. It was alot of fun just riding, I even stopped to take some pictures.

That night was my night to cook....pesto/alfredo pasta with chicken, red peppers and mushrooms. Mmmm!

We even got a bonfire going on our first try!!

We got our 'beauty' rest Sat. night and slept in until 9:00 am Sunday!! A late breakfast lead into a late morning ride back at Hardwood. The sun was shining, it was great riding weather. With it being the long weekend, there were many riders at Hardwood. So cool to see young kids out on the trails.

Sunday night tested Kim's cooking skills, as it was her turn to prepare supper. I was impressed. Her menu consisted of steak, 1/2 sweet potato and 1/2 baked potato combined with butter and garlic and fried zucchini. It was all done to perfection. Not sure who she has been trying to kid, but the cats out of the bag, she can really cook! (or at least bbq)

Once again we got a fire going on the first attempt that night and enjoyed some delicious s'mores and Bell's beer!! We had clear skies, lots of stars (the small dipper still not found). Perfect camping weather!

Monday we wrapped things up with a morning ride and a morning wipeout! I did the tuck and roll as I hit a root, just bruised up the shoulder a bit but no biggie.

What a fun weekend of riding, great weather and great company. Two girls just hangin' out telling/making their own two wheel stories!

Cheers,

Sue

My bike is my drug....................

2010-05-19T20:53:00.001-04:00

What a bad title for a post but I must explain. I went out for a ride tonight and I had "that" annoying song in my head. In order for me to cope with it I just changed up the words and dealt with it. I never ride with music. It is my "quiet" time. Tonight I sort of wished I had the i-pod as back up and then I would have had a better song to go with!!

Getting on the bike for me is a stress release, it's fun, it's freeing and I know it's good for me. I think I am a little addicted to it. I need that fix regardless of what type of ride I'm doing, how long or how short the ride may be. Any time on the bike is a good time!

So in the end, maybe that silly title is appropriate................. and to be even 'cornier' (if that's a word)..... is your bike your drug? ;op

Cheers,
Sue

Ontario Cup #2....................................

2010-05-10T10:02:00.003-04:00

With O-Cup #2 came unseasonably cold weather. The forecast called for rain and snow (and we got a little of both). The venue was Albion Hills Conservation Area, Bolton (West of Toronto). Our original plans were to camp at Albion with the kids for the weekend, but the idea of camping in freezing weather, had us turning it into a day trip. With the family packed in the van, we were out the door for 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning. We arrived around 11:00 a.m.. It was cold, overcast and windy!!!

I signed in, picked up my leaders jersey :o), saw Kim and Pak off at their start, then headed to the van to stay warm. Went through my pre-race routine, warmed up and off to the staging area for 1:25 p.m.. Can you believe it, the temps actually seemed a tad warmer, the sun was shining and clear blue skies for the start of the race. Perfect timing.

The elite women's field was strong with a couple of racers just back from World Cups, including Emily Batty (Trek World Racing).

From the start, Emily Batty and Mikaela Kofman (3 Rox Racing) went out front in 1, 2 fashion and put a bit of a gap on the rest of the group. For the first 3 laps, it was Sue Haviland (Norco Evolution) and myself battling for 3rd. On the 4th lap and final lap, Sue passed me just after the"Green Monster" (long steep'ish', grass climb) and I had nothing left to counter her move. Sue H. was alot smoother in the single track and would immediately close any small gap that I would gain on the climbs.With only a few kilometers to go I tried to close the gap but came up short of the podium and ended up 4th. Overall I felt really good and I'm happy with my race.

Top Five:
1. Emily Batty (Trek World Racing)
2. Mikaela Kofman (3 Rox Racing)
3. Sue Haviland (Norco Evolution)
4. Sue Stephens (Bell's/Quiring)
5. Mandy Dreyer

(full results)

Awesome job to Chico Racing for putting together a great course, even when the weather didn't want to co-operate.

Once again Paiten took care of my feeds and my 3 boys cheered me on. It was nice to have the whole family at the race for Mother's day.

Cheers,

Sue

No, I was not trying to make a fashion statement! My left knee warmer fell down within the first 5 minutes of the race! :o)

Top Spot at O-Cup #1.....................

2010-04-28T09:56:00.004-04:00

And.....................the O-Cup Series has officially started!! 1 down 6 to go.

Jay, Paiten and myself headed to Mansfield, ON, for the season O-Cup opener. We rented a cabin this year!! 2 warm and good nights of sleep (nothing like last year), NICE!! We went up on Friday and arrived around 4:00 p.m. Enough time to settle in and do a couple of pre-ride laps. The course was fast, with many gradual climbs, some pitchy climbs and fun technical descents including the famous Devil's Drop. The trails were sooooo dry with some sandy spots spread throughout. They could have used a bit of rain, however the weather held up, contrary to what the weather man had been forecasting. In fact there was no rain all weekend.

Just after supper, Kim and Pak rolled in. The night was pretty low key. We had a late supper and I called it a night around 10:30 p.m.

We woke up Sat. morning to cool temps. The parking lot filled with many racers coming in to pre-ride. I decided to sit the day out, relax, eat, chat and I even managed to get in a nap!!

Race day (Sunday) came and so did a headache, earaches and nerves!! I decided to take an early morning snooze to get rid of the 'aches' and got up just in time to see Kim and Pak get off for their 11:30 races.

I began my preparations and warm up around 12:30 and then to the line it was. Great to see familiar faces lineup next to me as well as a couple of racers from Quebec and the British National Cyclo-Cross Champion Helen Wyman (Kona Bikes - Pro MTB Team USA). ARGH, breath, just say 'go' already!! We were off. The race began with a long gradual sandy climb and I sat mid to front of the pack. The pace was comfortable. By the time we reached the top, Mandy Dryer had opened up a significant gap on the rest of us, however by the first section of single track I was on her wheel. I rode behind her for a while and then made a pass putting me out front. We were holding a steady pace and the group began to string out. Going into lap #2 there were only a couple of women with me. Soon it was myself and Heather Gray (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny's) about 10 sec. behind. We sort of played cat and mouse through the lap and then come lap 3 and 4 I put more distance on her. So down the final 'Devil's Drop', through the chicane and across the finish line I pulled off the win!!

Top 3:
1. Sue Stephens (Bell's/Quiring)
2. Heather Gray (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny's)
3. Sue Haviland (Norco Evolution)

(Full Results)

Thanks to Paiten for her flawless feeds, Jay for everything he does (awe.....), Kim and Pak for always making things fun (they both had great races), and to the London cheering squad!! As always, Chico Racing put on a great race!!

My bike ran smoothly, so much fun to ride. I am so pumped with the way it handles and how balanced I feel on it at all times. Budda-ba-ba-ba......I'm lovin' it!!

Cheers,

Sue

Yankee...............

2010-04-20T10:54:00.022-04:00

On the weekend we headed out early to the western side of Michigan for the Yankee Springs Time Trial. It was the usual suspects, Jay (driving), Kim (crabby and sleeping), Pak (pretending he was awake) and for the first time Adam McClounie. Adam is a long time cyclist that runs the Bike Sabbath Winter Ride Challenge Series in Windsor.

This is my second time riding Yankee. The first was at last year’s time trial. I didn’t remember much about the course other than I didn’t ride all that well but had fun nonetheless.

I was seriously considering racing the Paris to Ancaster instead of Yankee but figured I should get more time in the single track on the new bike. The first of the Ontario Cups is only a week away. Yankee is all single-track and well, the Paris to Ancaster not so much.We arrived at the venue really early, too early and waited in the van trying to stay warm. It was cold but the skies were clear which from inside the van made it appear warmer than it actually was. The day was already shaping up to be better than last year!

I pre-registered the day before the race which is unusual for me to commit. Normally I’d rather wait until I get to the venue just in case plans change and for some reason can’t make it. By registering late it put me near the back of the expert men and expert women’s fields. In a time trial sometimes this can work for you but more often than not it can work against you depending on how well everyone is moving up front. Like I already said Yankee is all single-track so safe passes can be an issue but Yankee is a 36km race so there should be plenty of trail to string the riders out.

At the start we left two at a time in 15 second intervals. The beginning of the course is smooth and flowy. I like! This lasted about ten or so minutes which gave me some time to get the legs warmed up. From there some small climbs started popping up and the ground became a little sandier. By half way I had passed some of the other women and was closing in on what I expected to be the leaders. It was Katerina Machacova (Fraser Bikes) and Tara Jansen (Farm Team Racing). They were moving at a nice pace and I eased in behind and rode for bit. The expert guys were pretty good about letting us through and when they weren’t Katerina made sure they heard about it. :o) On one occasion Katerina and another rider came together as the trail narrowed and we all bit it. We were all ok. I got up readjusted the brake lever, fixed the chain and got going again. About three quarters through the first lap I passed Katerina, and she grabbed on. We rode pretty much that way for the remainder of the race until I botched a climb and she moved in front. Shortly afterwards I passed her back and that’s how we crossed the finish line. Women's top 3 - Sue Stephens (Bells/Quiring) 1st, Katerina Machacova 2nd (Fraser Bikes), Erin Disterhaft (Team Billy's) 3rd. (Full results)
It was a good race to start the season off with. The new bike feels good and it is so much fun to ride. I was surprised to see Scott Quiring at the race. He was out on his custom motor assisted bicycle! Funny he didn’t offer a motor on my frame?!

After a small mechanical, my team-mate John Meyers pulled off a strong 7th. Pak had a good race with his new ride. This was Kim’s first race back after being injured by a drunk driver (last year). She is stronger than ever. Adam flatted on his first lap, however changed it quick enough to have a respectable finish.

Before heading home, we made our way to the Bell’s Brewery General Store, had lunch and a couple of beers at the Eccentric Café. Delicious!! We stopped by the general store to pick up a case of Oberon for next weekend and some Bell’s swag. Good times!

The race was well organized and the trail was in great shape. Props to the MMBA Western Chapter. Of course, a small payout would be nice for the top finishers.

Paris to Ancaster or Yankee Springs?? See you at Yankee next year!!!!!

Cheers,

Sue

Ma petite bicyclette..........................

2010-04-13T23:02:00.002-04:00

Happiness is.............

On Monday, April 12, Jay and I made the trip to Charlotte, MI to pick up my team Quiring frame. Scott Quiring greeted us in the parking lot and then guided us through the old brick building to the basement workshop. After approx. an hour of picking his brain on the frame building process, we exchanged 'goods' and Jay and I were on the road again. This time heading to Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness, where the frame would soon become a bike! Between Oscar (owner of GLCF), and Jason Lummis (teammate) my bike was soon built. Probably could have been a done bit earlier had another teammate, whom I will not mention HIS name, not squeezed my brake lever as my brake lines were in the process of being cut!! Air in the lines!! Thanks Steve Dempsey (oops I said HIS name!!) Kidding aside, he actually helped out in his suit!! I took the bike through the parking lot test, hopped over some curbs, you know, just played around! It's fun, feels fast, and looks fast. For a 29'er I guess 'she' looks small, or so I've been told!

Thanks Scott for a beautiful frame, to Oscar for his expertise, Jason for making it all come together, and Steve for HIS............time wasting tactics :o) I have the bike before my first race of the season!

As it sits here it weighs in at around 20.8 lbs!!

Thanks to the team sponsors for the goodies!!!

Cheers,

Sue

2010-04-03T21:12:00.001-04:00

The Amazing Race.................

2010-03-23T21:52:00.001-04:00

I always wanted to be a contestant on The Amazing Race, the adventure, the fun, the competitors and the travel. However, after getting lost the other day because of my lack of map reading skills, I may just want to park my ass on the couch and remain a viewer. I have a new found respect for the contestants and couples that travel to foreign countries, that speak foreign languages and still make it to their destinations.

So this is what happened. With the window of nice weather we had early in the week and the rain to come I wanted desperately to get out on the trails. I heard through the grapevine that Maybury was dry and in good shape. I’ve never ridden there before but I had a general idea where it was as I’ve driven past the brown State Park sign many times on the way to Pickney. The only thing I couldn’t remember is if it was on I-94 or I-96 where I had seen the signs. My guess was 96 because I travel that highway more often. The only time I really drive 94 is to the airport or to my sister’s place near Jackson. Judging by the Oakland County Parks map I had, (that’s right I don’t have a GPS), the drive wasn’t going to be that long. I figured door to door in about an hour if all goes smooth at the border.

No line-ups at the border meant pretty much off the bridge and onto 96. The crossroads along the way were all adding up to my handy little map until…….I went South on I-275 instead of North!!! I lost my bearings, my whereabouts, and my patience. I-94 creeps up and I realize I am going the wrong way. I turn off I-275 onto 94 thinking I still need to head west, but nothing is looking right. I look for Beck Road and can’t find it. I finally give up and take a turn off I-94 but end up in an un-inviting area. I stopped at two gas stations, no help, and no real Michigan map!!! I took the opportunity to stop at a Liquor Store and drove across some freshly painted yellow parking lot lines. Oops! The painter wasn’t happy. I got the hell out of there and found a Rite Aid. With directions, and 2 new maps, I was on my way. The right way. Unfortunately it was alot of backtracking. I pretty much had to go back to where I turned off of 96.

After 1 hr and 15 min of extra driving I arrived at my final destination. “This better be worth it”, I said to myself. Got the bike out, put my cold riding gear on and out to the trailhead. After the first 100meters (110 yards) I quickly forgot about the chaotic drive and was smiling from ear to ear. Finally back on the trails!!! Winter is just way too long. I’m definitely going south next year!

So, I’ll have to say that Maybury was fun, flowy, and was in great shape. It was the perfect season opening trail ride. The short 5 mile loop was easy to follow (no map reading skills needed). The fact there wasn’t much climbing allowed me to take it easy on my healing hamstring. The hamstring is starting to feel alot better. I put in a few easy laps then packed the van and headed home. Just so you know I made it back, no problem. Redemption!

As for my hopes of being on The Amazing Race, well my map reading skills aside, I’ve heard that you must be a citizen of the U.S.A. Lucky for them!

Happy trails!!

Cheers,

Sue

Wind power............................

2010-03-17T22:09:00.000-04:00

With the beautiful March weather and my hamstring on the mend, Kim and I went for a nice ;o) county ride today. Sure hope this weather is here to stay!!

I guess I'm not the only one that thinks it's windy around here!! In less then a year wind mills have been erected in many fields nearby!! (I only captured a few in this pic.) They are so massive!! Seriously pictures do not do them justice. We look like a speck next to these giants.

Clayton (8), from small dirt jumps to jumps off the back deck..........sometimes it's just better for mom not to watch!!!

Spring Forward....................

2010-03-14T12:21:00.001-04:00

Archives - Clayton - March 2007 - 5 years old!!

(Check out the March weather!!)

Here we are in the middle of March, we lost an hour of our weekend and the weather, well......... rainy, windy, and muddy, start of spring???
For the most part things have been going well, however my patience is wearing thin. It's been way too long since I've been on trails and I am in desperate need of my trail fix!
For the past week and a half I have been dealing with tight muscles and a hamstring issue. Oddly enough I went through the same thing, same time last year....call it deja-vu? (blog post March, 2009) Just when I felt like progress is being made I am forced to back off and heal. So Monday I will be making some phone calls (should have done a week ago) and booking massage, chiro, and perhaps even physio appointments. No time for "down time", so a speedy recovery is needed and a pro-active approach is the only way.
My "To Do" list is getting longer, registration deadlines are closing in, my bike and 'stuff' will be here soon, excitement is building and I can feel the nerves already, hmmmmm, must mean bike season is just around the corner. Ready or not here it comes!!!!!

Enjoy your ride, hope for good weather and stay healthy.

Cheers,

Sue

Seasons come and go..............................

2010-03-04T17:33:00.004-05:00

Spring cleaning, de-cluttering, making room, call it what you want. The fact that the sun is shining and the temps have come above freezing puts bike season preparation in motion. I was going through my bike clothes and I couldn't help but notice the variety of jerseys I have accumulated over the past few years. I'm sure many of you can relate to the pile of jerseys you just can't get rid of because they have some meaning/memory behind it. I received some from races, some from sponsors and others given to me as gifts. Here are just a 'few' of mine with a story to tell.............

1. The Ontario Cup Series has always been a priority on my race schedule and these leaders jerseys that I have earned along the way can't be bought.........priceless!! :o)

2. This grouping of jerseys, I either won or got them as a gift. I must tell the story behind the Sweet Pete's jersey. A fellow cyclist arrived at an O-Cup only to realize he had a problem with his front wheel. He tried to fix it to no avail. After a quick chat with Jay we lent him my spare wheel. After the race he returned my wheel and said he had one of his best races. So as a thanks, he sent me a team jersey, how awesome (or perhaps I should say 'Sweet').

3. The last set of jerseys show the various clubs/teams that I have been lucky to be part of. From my first bike shop sponsor, The Bicycle Shop, to my first factory sponsor, Brodie Bikes, it's all part of my racing history.

So here we are, the race season just around the corner. I will be with a new team (Bell's/Quiring Cycles), new teammates, new bike and I'll be wearing a new jersey.

It's the jersey that identifies you in the pack. It's the jersey that others see coming in the distance,or if you are having a good day from the back. It's your jersey, your team flag, it does mean something, wear it with pride!!

Cheers,

Sue

BIKE : EAT : SLEEP : REPEAT.................

2010-02-19T10:30:00.003-05:00

Up @ 6:30 a.m., make kids lunches, wake kids up, make breakfast, head out to bring one to school for early morning basketball practice, get back home in time to bring the other 3 to the bus stop, drive (35 min.) to work, arrive at 8:50 a.m., teach a couple of classes, drive back to the county, pick up daughter from school for orthodontist appointment (40 min. back to city), grab a quick lunch on the go, bring her back to school, wait 20 minutes and load the van up with the school girls basketball team, head to game, girls WIN, stop off at the grocery store on the way home, make supper, eat, clean kitchen, 'yell' for kids to do homework, kids to bed, it is now 9:15 p.m., I get on the trainer for 1 hr 30 min / watch olympics/ chat with Jay, take a quick shower and crash on the couch, wake up at 3:00 a.m. and drag my tired ass to bed, alarm goes off @ 6:30 a.m., ready for another day........................ BIKE : EAT : SLEEP : REPEAT, yeah right, let's be realistic!! :o)

This is my life, not so simple, but I love it.

Cheers,

Sue

Day of 'firsts'....................

2010-02-09T16:56:00.001-05:00

I received the first part to my new bike yesterday and tried this thing they call Hopslam. Needless to say it was a good day!!!!!

Cheers,

Sue

Lessons along the way.........

2010-02-07T17:37:00.003-05:00

You're never too YOUNG or too old to learn. Sometimes it's a lesson we already learnt but need to be reminded after we make the same mistake.

Between yesterday and today's rides, here are my top 10 noteworthy lessons I learned:

1. Never let someone carry your bike over an obstacle when you know another rider has a camera on hand. Lesson learned: Won't do that again (right Kim?).
2. Never assume there's no ice under the snow. Lesson learned: Wipeouts are inevitable (right Pak?).
3. Just because it looks warm out, doesn't mean it really is. Lesson learned: Looks can be deceiving, it's still winter. I shouldn't have opted for one less layer.
4. Always be prepared for a dog to chase you. Lesson learned: High pitched scream will not always work (lucky for me it did today).
5. Hope for no wind but always expect it. Lesson learned: Essex County should be renamed 'Land of the Wind'.
6. Ride with a plan, a purpose, a route. Lesson learned: Have a back up plan because the unexpected can happen (detour, argh!).
7. Not a great idea to post a picture of my red rashed legs on my blog. Lesson learned: I just realized how white my legs really are. Oh I need a tan!!
8. Never spit into the wind. Lesson learned: Self explanatory (I didn't do that but I'm sure someone has!).
9. Don't take a shower until your body has been brought back to normal body temp. Lesson learned: I have yet to learn, my toes turn purple, skin gets redder and itches like crazy.
10. Never share the wind: Lesson learned: It sucks but it will make you stronger. Mind over matter, I love the wind!! Right?

They say we should learn something new everyday. Well my lessons may seem useless and perhaps recurrent, but they are my lessons. They make me think, they keep me focused, and they give me something to blog about!!

Cheers,

Sue

"Excuse" me........................

2010-02-02T11:02:00.003-05:00

I had so many excuses why I shouldn't get on the bike yesterday. My motivation seemed a bit low, I had to work nights, clean, pick up the boys at the bus stop, pick up our daughter from basketball, get supper ready..... Then came Mr. Brightside, you know like the angel on the shoulder that convinces you to ignore the devil on the other shoulder, the positive vs. the negative, "I'll get the kids, I'll take care of supper, just get out and ride and don't worry about anything." How lucky I am to have that support system! In a way I was hoping he was going to talk me out of my ride. Fat chance!! I picked up my bad attitude, put on my layers, got my H2O bottle ready, stepped out the door and was greeted by my always 'ready to go' bike!!

It was crisp, overcast, and oddly enough seemed to have little wind for this time of year. hmmmmmm!

I clipped in and headed down the road. As I pedalled away, my mood shifted, and I knew I was doing what I wanted and needed to do. I kept a quicker cadence and my focus turned to my upcoming season, my training, and my goals. So there I was pedalling, toasty warm and in deep thought. I made it to my check point, turned around and then it hit me, smack right in the face.....................................the 'ghost wind'!!! Apparently there was some wind it just happened to be behind me on the way out. So the ride home was painfully slow and I realized that not every ride has to be monumental or perfect. But those 'in between' rides are just as important. They make the good rides great.

Maybe this is nature's way of telling me to lose the excuses and the bad attitude? Who knows.

As I have been told many times by a good friend 'shut up and ride'. I will do just that. See you in two hours.

Cheers,

Sue

Please let me vent #2............................

2010-01-30T22:43:00.002-05:00

The beginning of February is only a couple of days away and I can't stop wishing for warm weather. I want sun, heat, trails and no more layers!!! I'm usually patient with the weather and take the four seasons as they come but for some reason this year I want winter to be over with. The trails are calling and I can't wait to get on them!! The temps have been in the (-)'s, factor in the wind chill and we are in the.... COLD.

Aside from the weather I also have another thing I want to vent about.

I went out for a ride on the back county roads the other day, just movin' along. I like taking the back roads because there is less traffic and the less traffic there is the less I have to deal with ignorant motorists. I am always cautious on the road and I respect motor vehicles. I keep to the edge on my one inch of pavement. In fact many times when there is a vehicle coming I peal off to the shoulder and allow them the lane, especially if there are cars coming from both directions.
I needed to take a 'busier' connector road between concessions, so there I was heading west. A vehicle was coming from the opposite direction, no prob., until I heard a roaring sound from behind me. The edge of the road had a slight drop onto the gravel so I opted to hold my slim margin of pavement. As the oncoming car was approaching I could hear the vehicle behind me speeding up. Sure enough both cars went by at the same time. I felt the wind as the truck did not budge an inch and was WAY too close for comfort. I sure hope the driver read my lips because I had a few chosen words for him. He proceeded to the next road and turned left and totally eased off the gas, almost 'puttsing'. There really was no room for error and that idiot (to be kind) had me a bit shakin' and incredibly mad.

SHARE THE ROAD!!!!

I think it should be mandatory that before you get your licence, you have to bike on the side of the road and see what it feels like to have cars pass. Maybe then there would be more respect for bikers!

Safety for cyclist is all I want. Perhaps it's times like these that make me realize why I like riding off road. Just me, the bike and obstacles that don't move!!

Stay warm and ride safe,

Sue

Short and sweet......................

2010-01-21T19:33:00.000-05:00

I don't want my posts to become repetitive so I will keep this one brief. I will let the pictures explain the ride and each rider can share their own story.

Last Sunday I joined the WRCS ride #4. There were about 23 riders and the temps were just below freezing. The pace was a bit quicker and there were a few attacks made from the front (quick little sprints to spark the muscles).

I am still trying to figure out the gearing for my single speed. Ratios, gears, conversions, percentages, distance travelled, blah, blah, blah................... I have mentioned many times in the past that I just want to ride. Riding a single speed gets rid of shifting issues, however poses a bigger problem, gear selection!! ARGH!!

Hopefully I will have it all figured out for next Sunday's ride. If not, I will continue to be that spinning mad'woman' trying to convince myself it will only make me stronger!!

Cheers,

Sue

The Wellness Lifestyle..............

2010-01-15T21:33:00.002-05:00

I like to think that this is the 'one stop wellness shop'! With the pounding, training, and daily hurt that I put my body through I have people behind the scenes who help get rid of my aches. I had my regular appointment at Renaissance Chiropractic and Natural Health Centre yesterday and walked out feeling great. I have been going to them for about 6.5 years now. The combination of massage therapy and chiropractic care have also played a role in my recovery. I have spoke of this father/daughter duo before but this time I went with my camera in hand. To their surprise I told them I wanted to blog about them.

My visit started with Tenille Smith, RMT. My muscles were tight and sore to touch and it had been a while since my last massage. Let me tell ya, I felt them!! As she worked through the 'knots', I only uttered a couple of unpleasant words, however I know in the end this is for my benefit. Definitely no sleeping during deep tissue massages!! :)

After the hour long massage I headed across the hallway to see Dr. Reimer, D.C.. His calm and very welcoming personality never makes you feel rushed. He is very thorough and no ache or pain goes untreated. I sit in a chair, face down, chest forward and he makes the adjustments using a computer, the ProAdjuster. This computer gives him the visual feedback so he can pin point what needs to be 'fixed'. In the past he's worked on my hips, a migraine, my shoulders, and back and the results are amazing. Many discomforts can be treated, you just have to be open to thinking outside of the box.
Throughout my bike season and the off season I find it very important to keep my body as pain free as possible and I know the 2 people that 'truly have my back'.

Cheers,

Sue

Team 'flag'........

2010-01-11T09:37:00.005-05:00

Here's a mock up of the 2010 Bell's Beer/Quiring Cycles jersey that we will be wearing next year. My teammate, Erin Vicary, did a killer job on the design.

WRCS #2
Yesterday 20 (+/-) of us riders, braved the elements once again for WRCS #2. The ride was approx. 52 km's. This route is my favourite of the series. We left from The Second Cup in St. Clair Beach, headed out to Woodslee, wrapped around to Belle River and then took the lake road back. The snow covered bridges created some slippin' and slidin', as we all tried to clear the 'run' without tapping a foot down. After just over a couple of hours we were back and another ride was in the books. Next week, the ride starts from Cafe Mondo in Lasalle.

Cheers,
Sue

Windsor ~ winter ~ weather ~ ride

2010-01-09T01:48:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 WRCS #1 took place. With winter weather, approx. 25 riders, mtb and cx bikes (many single speeds, vying for extra points) and a 50km route planned, we left Telula Cafe. I chose to ride a single speed. At the time I wasn't sure if I would come to regret the decision, but it worked out well. I didn't know if I had enough gear. The ride took on a very casual pace and stories were shared. With many riders sporting balaclavas, and totally covered in winter gear, fellow riders were identified simply by voice or by their bike!!
We headed out along the Detroit River and wrapped around into Lasalle. At times the group rode 2x2, single file and even one mass of riders clustered together. We went from road to the Windsor trail, back to road..... Lots of ice but surprisingly, no casualties!! For the most part my core stayed warm, but my hands and feet fell victim to the cold. With about 15 km (+/-) remaining, a few riders turned around and headed back to the cafe. From that point the pace picked up a bit.
Heading into the last 10 km, a small group of us crossed a busy road which seperated us from the rest. By the time I realized it we were pretty far ahead and it was just too cold to slow up. Besides we were close to the end of the ride and we would all meet up soon inside the cafe to warm up. The final push was a bit quicker and at times it felt like my feet couldn't keep up to the pedals. Maybe a bigger gear for next week's ride?
All back to Telula. Some, for a quick snack and a warm beverage. Unfortunately I coudn't stick around. It took the entire 40 minute drive home before I was able to feel my toes, or to move them for that matter. I think I will put the toe warmers top and bottom next time!! Looking forward to next Sunday's ride!

After Sunday's ride, Jay and I decided to hit the frozen trails of Morton on Monday. The trails were snow covered and a layer of ice laid underneath. For the most part the snow helped with traction but as soon as I started to feel confident a quick slip of the front wheel would remind me to slow things down.
We cut the ride short because we had to get the kids off the bus. I was warm (body, hands and feet). Not satisfied I tossed around the idea of biking home from there (about 45 km's). I had the single speed again and we had just put some BIG A** nobby tires on for the trail ride, so I knew I had may work cut out for me!! The wind wasn't going to help either.
Jay left in the truck to get the kids and I was off. By the time I was half way home the water in my bottle froze into slush. The 'almost perfect' summer drink!! Too bad it wasn't summer. I pushed on and after a total ride of almost 60 km through snow, slush and ice I was home.

Ride on,

Sue

That was then........

2010-01-01T12:49:00.007-05:00

It was 1993. I was 18 and Jay and I had been dating for a short time. We took up this sport called ‘mountain biking’ after Jay’s brother had bought a lime green Rocky Mountain Equipe a few years before. In the back of the truck is Jay’s Lab. She was only a year old at the time and a few years later became our family dog. She would run with us for hours on end and seemed to instinctively know the trail etiquette of mtb’ing. The two bikes were Kona’s. Mine was a Kilauea which we still have up in the attic. Jay’s was a Kona Hot which has been lent out/parted out a number of times. The frame is around here somewhere. This was my second bike and clipless pedals/front suspension was a welcoming upgrade. It was only a few years later that the bikes were used for pulling heavy bike trailers occupied by snoozing kids instead of laps at Poto.

Here is an old picture of me at the local hill. It was an old landfill that had been abandoned about 20 years before. The Windsor Police used a section of it as an outdoor firing range and the faint odor of methane gas reminded you were riding on tons of garbage. There were a number of runs on the top of the hill that had a slight grade from one end to the other. Jay and I would spend hours doing loops around the top hitting different ‘downhill’ lines.

There are a lot of things wrong with this picture. I wasn’t wearing a helmet; my hand was broke and in a cast and check out that riding position. Stupid kids!

Here is a picture of Jay doing the same jump. I think we were using a disposable camera. Note the helmet, bar ends and the fanny pack. Wasn't he cool?

Now it's 2010. Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year.

Cheers,

Sue

Holiday Happenings

2009-12-28T17:21:00.032-05:00

A few collage highlights...........

(My mom always sets a nice Christmas table and makes a delicious meal, Nolan gets a lift from dad, our annual once a year - family pic, winter riding, our house lit up, family hike, snow angel, letter from Santa)

Happy Holidays to all!! Our holiday shenanigans have included getting out on the bike, shopping, eating, Santa stopping by, gift giving, visiting, hiking........... as you can see life around here has been busy. With the kids home from school for another week, cabin fever has set in. So..... we decided to go for a hike down the trail this morning and of course we chose a blizzardy day. Everyone bundled up and stayed warm and Jay and I sported our new hot headz hot wavez fleece hoodies we got for Christmas. They are warm and cozy. (Got them from my mother in law. They were a shopping channel buy. You can always count on her for being up to date with all the show stoppers! :-P ) Aside from many other great gifts I also got some Acorn slipper socks. Yippee, no more cold feet!

Speaking of staying warm, I have my winter riding gear/layers sorted out for cold weather riding. It really makes a difference when you can stay warm, especially when winter has just begun. Yikes, to think we still have at least 3 more months of this!! (brrrrrrrrrr)

Cheers,

Sue

2009 - A Race Season in Review

2009-12-19T23:30:00.028-05:00

With the 2009 season well behind me and 2010 lingering just around the corner I thought I would pause for a moment and reflect on how my past season played out. There is no need for me to do a play by play for each race because it is all in the archives!! Just the end results are posted below. So here's my 2009 race season results in review................

2009 Race Results:

Michigan USAC Mountain Bike Series (Tailwind and MMBA) - United States (Elite Women)

3rd - Yankee Springs TT - Michigan - 04/19/09
2^nd place - Fort Custer XC, Michigan–05/3/09
1^st place - Bloomer XC, Michigan – 05/24/09
1^st place - Ruby XC, Michigan - 06/14/09
DNF (crashed) – Stony Creek Marathon, Michigan – 06/28/09
2^ndplace – Wisconsin (WORS)– 07/05/09
1^st Place – Pontiac Lake, Michigan – 08/16/09
1^st place – Fort Custer TT, Michigan – 08/23/09
1^st place – Addison Oaks, Michigan – 09/13/09

Ontario Cup Mountain Bike Race Series (Chico Racing) - Canada (Pro-Elite Women)

4^th place –Ontario Cup #1 Mansfield - 04/26/09
6^th place – Ontario Cup #2 Albion - 05/10/09
16^th place – Canada/O-Cup #3 Hardwood Hills - 05/31/09
4^th place – Ontario-Cup #4 Boler - 06/07/09
5^th place – Ontario-Cup #5 Buckwallow - 07/19/09
2^nd place – Ontario-Cup #6 Midland - 08/09/09
2^nd place – Ontario Provincial Championships - 08/30/09
3^rd place in overall Ontario Cup Series

Other races:

2^ndplace-Open Women Liberty Squeezer - 09/27/09
6^thplace-Pro Women Iceman Cometh - 11/07/09

I have a tentative 2010 race schedule made and all I can say it's going to be a little busy!!! I just need to hammer out some final details! ;)

Cheers,

Sue

The difference one day makes.....

2009-12-13T19:48:00.080-05:00

So with the strong/cold winds of late that seemed to just pierce every layer of clothing I have, I thought to myself, how the hell did I get through this last year? So instead of taking my workout outside last Wed - Fri, I kept things indoors on the trainer. It felt wrong. Isn't it too early in the off season to be strapped to the trainer? But then came Sat. and voila, there it was!! A blue sky, cold fresh air, barely a wind and firm ground. Yeah it was cold but a different type of cold than the days before. I'd call it crisp. I couldn't wait to throw on the winter riding shoes, hop on the Greenway and just ride. With my camera in my back pocket and the buds in my ears, I was off. I had the entire trail to myself and drifted off into my own little world. I even caught myself singing out loud to the I-pod a few times (loser). Spinning away, I was reminded that this is the winter riding I've come to.......tolerate.

Fast forward to today. Wet, messy, cloudy and cold. Indoors it is! The difference one day can make.................

Cheers,

Sue

2010 sponsor is...............

2009-12-09T19:21:00.006-05:00

No need for days of suspense. It has now been released on the team website. The 2010 roster for the Bell's/Quiring Cycles Professional MTB Team, powered by SRAM is up and I am pleased to say that I am on it!! This is such a perfect fit. Great team, great product, great fun!! I am really excited and looking forward to a great year. My blog will be getting a fresh look real soon and I will put links to the team sponsors, blogs and up coming events. Please check back often, updates will be happenin'.

Cheers,

Sue

Weights it is.......................

2009-12-09T16:53:00.004-05:00

I started my weight room training and things are going good. Jay has shown me many exercises and my body has responded and the verdict is………..pain!! No, I guess it’s not that bad but I am sore! We’re mixing things up making sure the muscles recover before working them again. In between sets I get on the bike (on the trainer) to spin my legs and keep my heart rate up a bit. Lots of strength training and that’s exactly what I need. My hamstrings are tight (story of my life), but on the first night Jay had me do stiff legged dead lifts, well that was last Thurs. and today being Wed. I can actually start to touch my hamstrings without much discomfort! Yikes!! Needless to say we haven’t done any more hamstring stuff since. Soon though!! I went for a ride outside yesterday. The temps sat around freezing and the air was nice and crisp. Today is a different story, actually pretty nippy out! Not to mention it is sooo WINDY that my hydro keeps flickering. Brrr, think I'll keep the training indoors today!

Other exciting news..............I will be sporting a different kit next year!! Stay tuned to find out who my 2010 sponsor(s) are!! Hopefully I can post it soon!! I am very excited!!

Cheers,

Sue

All I've got is 9 minutes.....................

2009-12-03T17:52:00.006-05:00

The noodles are boiling and I ran for the computer to put up this post. I'll take whatever time I can.
So this week has been pretty exciting in terms of training. My motivation has stayed high and my craving to be on the bike is very strong. In due time, in due time....... My casual rides seem to fuel my addiction and I know what is best for me at the moment. So I've taken on some cross training and I have picked many peoples brains. They have given me so many ideas for training and I will try to mix things up so I can be well rounded come race season. On Monday I headed to a local high school and taught a Pilates class with Lu (the owner of the studio where I work). It was a grade 10 girls phys. ed. class and they were alot of fun. Afterward, we (Lu and I) went back to the studio and worked out together. This workout included some plyometrics, upper and lower body, all while working the core. Great workout!! She always has new stuff to show me and I am a good guinea pig!! Sometimes I think I'm too eager but I just can't back down!! So Tues. came and I taught a spin class pretty much in the dark (best way to ride indoors!). On to Wednesday, I went to an indoor cycling class with a few of the bikeSABBATH riders, and Kim too!! Good job to Pak for taking on the title as last minute leader of the ride. Jay has a workout planned for me tonight. (Not sure if I should be afraid or not), but I'm up for any challenge thrown my way!! I'll keep you posted on how things go!! This could be interesting. :)

There goes the timer, 9 minutes to 'Al Dente'...................

Cheers,

Sue

"Log" On.....................

2009-11-28T18:19:00.008-05:00

Part 1

What a beautiful November day. Clear blue sky, bright sun, and crisp air. I put my layers on, jumped on the bike and headed down the Greenway (local gravel trail that used to be a railway). My mind and body still in chillin' mode. So with my camera in my pocket, my journey took on many blog ideas and thoughts. If only I could put them all together. I was very surprised NOT to see many other trail users taking advantage of this weather. Perhaps people ambushed the malls to scoop up the deals. I on the other hand chose to forgo the chaos of holiday shopping and take in the fresh air. I only saw a handful of trail users throughout my 37 km ride. This including my son and his friend who had taken to the trail a bit earlier then I. Once I caught up with them I took a quick picture of the camo clad boys and then carried on with my ride.
I reflected on what my off season training will look like. Each year I try to add something new. I have been out for short jogs (I don't particularly love!), doing weights and core exercises. During the ride I had so many thoughts and ideas I wanted to post about however, I now feel like some things are irrelevant (checking out the different types of berries along the way, you don't want to hear about that, but you just did!!) and many other thoughts I have forgotten by the time I got to this keyboard. Regardless, I remember the feeling of peace, being in the moment, the ride (how lucky I am to be on the bike), the crisp air, the freedom............

Part 2

I bring the bike in, make a late lunch, quick tidy up, and to the computer I go. I download my pictures, then browse the local forum to find this post. (If you read the linked post then the following will make some sense!)

I have my own thoughts and I think life does not have to be so complicated!! These trails are beautifully maintained and boasts the most single track in the area. They are lots of fun to ride. To my disappointment I see that the "log rolls" have been removed. Let me explain, there is one "log roll" which the approach is on an angle, however the rest of them are fun and relatively easy to get over. Regardless of your ability, they can be hopped, rolled up and over, or walked over without question. They take up such a small portion of the trail and even pedestrians should be able to easily walk over. If it is a mountain biking issue then ride within your ability with one day perhaps making it a goal to get over the log(s) without dismounting. How does a novice rider get better if they don't have something to eventually test them?
My husband took our 7 year old son to Morton a couple of weeks ago. He cleared each "log roll" with a huge smile on his face. He was so pumped of his accomplishment that when they got home I got to hear all about it!! :)
Let's keep mountain biking fun, safe and a bit challenging. We cannot hold everyone's hand as they go over their first log. These are not super technical trails. Makes me wonder how riders and hikers survive through hilly, rocky, rooty trails without cutting the obstacles out of the way? Why is it in Essex County (Windsor in particular) they are banning trails from mountain bike riding and now want to take out the fun challenges on some of the remaining trail systems? ARGH.............. I guess it's just another bump in the 'trail'!

"Log" off....................

Cheers,

Sue

29er at Pontiac..........

2009-11-24T15:58:00.001-05:00

(Erin's 29er)

On Sunday, Kim, Pak, Andy and myself headed over to Pontiac to take in a couple of laps while the weather is nice and the trails are still welcoming!! I was hooked up once again with Andy's Jamis hardtail (sweet ride) for the first lap. I was relaxed and pumped to just to ride the trails with no pressure or race nerves!! After lap #1 I headed to the parking lot where Erin Vicary (Bell's/Quiring Cycle) met me. She brought her fully custom 29er (above pictures) for me to try. I was so excited to give it a whirl!!! With me tossing the idea of riding/racing a 29er next year, now was the time to see how it feels on a trail. In fact due to her injury this year, she was not able to race and her 29er had really only seen a couple of road rides. She felt confident enough in my ability to allow me the pleasure of the first trail ride. Thanks!! How privileged am I?? (Not to mention totally appreciative!) After making a couple of adjustments, seat height and tire pressure I headed to the trails. Now remember, this bike is custom to Erin. We are roughly the same height but my unusually lonnnnnng limbs make us probably a bike size difference. Her bike was a tad small but let me tell you, that considered, I still got in an awesome ride. The verdict................... well it is a sweet bike. I didn't even feel like I was working nor did I feel like I was on a 29er. My gearing was so similar to what I would have used on my 26er. The momentum and speed it carries is crazy. The fact that there is less travel in the fork was a non-issue. The bike just rolls over everything and the body thanks it for it. I came back smiling (as Erin quickly pointed out). I was very excited! The myths put behind, a 29er is not only for you tall guys!!
Quiring Cycles have been around a while and they have the 29er dialed.

Is a 29er the way I am heading?....................... Stay tuned!!!

Cheers,

Sue

Average Speed = Irrelevant (today)...............

2009-11-18T15:08:00.001-05:00

With so much to do I thought I would prioritize my day!! So yep, I got on my bike. Windy, cloudy (with bursts of sun) and with rain in the forecast there was an importance to get on my bike before all else. You see it wasn't about a hard effort, nor steady state or tempo it was just because.... Fresh air and the road ahead of me. I laughed to myself as I passed the 60 km/hr sign, sure did not apply to me but the slow moving vehicle sign was definitely more descriptive of my pace. During the race season, when rides become about training, you don't stop to appreciate your surroundings, you are driven by the focus of the intended ride. So for no other reason other then freedom I am blogging about my ride of leisure, where my average speed is irrelevant, and for today I liked it!!!

Cheers,

Sue

1st Annual Country Cross

2009-11-15T21:13:00.002-05:00

Today was the 1st Annual Country Cross, Cross Race, organized, designed and promoted by our good friend Pak!!! I sat the race out but still went to cheer and help out. Great job, great fun, and congrats to all who suffered through the crazily awesome, body hurtin', lung burning course!! Pictures courtesy of Jay. Please check out the following link for details on the race..... www.bikesabbath.blogspot.com

Cheers,

Sue

Season may be over but...........

2009-11-15T21:01:00.001-05:00

........still finding ways to be on 2 wheels!! My week following Iceman was pretty busy. With the wrap up of the season Sat., I headed for Miami (South Beach) Tues - Fri.. I went to a Spin and pilates conference with the owner of the studio where I work. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. Obviously, we didn't pass up the opportunity to take in a 2 hour Spin class (aside from the other Spin workshops I had). So it really wasn't a week off the bike, I still managed to get my fix. I also hopped on my oldest sons dirt bike (who's your mommy now!! lol) OK he wasn't thrilled with the idea but once he realized that I sort of knew what I was doing he relaxed a little. Good times, good times!!

Cheers,
Sue

'n'Iceman......................

2009-11-09T09:43:00.006-05:00

The 20th Iceman Cometh is now part of history and perhaps n'Iceman was a better title for this years 60°F weather. Late/end of the season fitness was tested in this all out hammer-fest point to point mountain bike race. Racers this year > 4000. Everyone has a story to tell about their Iceman experience and I am no exception. So here's my two wheel tale on the race that has all the 'Bells' and whistles...............

Bike, check, helmet, check, gloves, check, shoes, glasses, riding clothes (for all weather), plain clothes, gels, drinks......check, check, check, check!!!!! Packed and ready to venture off for my 3rd Iceman. Jay and I were on the road again this time heading for the season grand finale in Traverse City, MI. A few stops along the way, sign-in and package pick-up at The Grand Traverse Resort, do a few laps around the bike expo, chatty catch up with a couple fellow cyclists and check-in to the hotel by 7:00 p.m, dinner by 8:45 p.m. and chillaxed the rest of the evening. So this is what day #1 (Friday) night before the race looked like! Sat. morning was low key and slow moving. The weather seemed unseasonably warm but I liked it!! Before I even talk about the race I want to tell you a little somethin' about the bike I was riding..... Borrowed from Andy Jenner (fellow cyclist,friend, cool guy), full carbon, Jamis dxc hardtail. Jay dialed it for me 1 1/2 weeks prior to Iceman, getting the bike to about 19.8 lbs!!! Sweet ride!! Now to the race.... The pro start time was 2:30 p.m. which gave me lots of time for square breathing!!!! (Just a bit of nerves that's all, wink, wink) We had approx. a 30 min drive to the start, which was in Kalkaska so we headed out around 1:00 p.m.. The course was a bit longer this year and included a road roll out mile or so through a neighborhood before hitting the dirt. They did call ups and I was among the women brought to the front line. The pro women's field was approx. 39 deep and it was sooooo strong. Pro men were off first and before even getting out of sight there was a pile up. OUCH!! The scene was cleared and count down from 10 began........ Go and I went. I had a good starting position that allowed me to immediately grab the front but where was everyone else? I guess we all had the same game plan and that was not to be the one to lead the group down the pavement. So By the first road turn Kelli Emmett and Alison Dunlap had now jumped out in front. The turn put us into a strong headwind and the pace dropped once again, seemed like no one really wanted to pull. I sat in the middle of the group (but not comfortable in that spot) so when I had the chance I veered out to the side and took a bit of wind to avoid getting 'jammed in'. I heard the sound of bikes hitting the road in what sounded like a big crash and sure enough the pro women field had taken out a few of their own. Still not sure what happened behind me but hope everyone was ok. Once we hit sand/dirt I took a bad line through some deep sand but no biggie, I was still in contact with the front. The pace picked up and the field quickly split like I knew it would. I was sitting about 7th wheel holding on to the draft at the tail end of the lead group. It was not really where I wanted to be, but I worked with it. The leaders, changing positions, quick burst and quick recoveries left me to deal with my steady slower recovery. As the race went on I was slowly losing the draft and all I could do was watch as the lead group pulled away..... Unfortunately, I got dropped at the top of a gradual climb. So it was me on my own with only a hope to somehow catch up. This is not the race to ride solo. A short time later Marnie Smiley (Scott Bicycles) came up behind me. Brief conversation and the decision to work together followed. I set the pace the majority of the time but she did take a few quick pulls, enough to keep the speed and for my legs to recover. Through the course we traveled, and the sight of a women (6th place) gave me hope. We came up to a steep sandy climb with about 5 miles to go and caught the 6th place (Lisa Strong, Colorado). I made the pass half way up the climb. Lisa, Marnie and myself held together for the next couple of miles. Marnie soon dropped off, and with 2 miles left I pulled away from Lisa. Crossed the finish line in 6th place. Happy with that, but not so happy that I didn't have the legs to hang on a little longer with the main lead group. I had a few setbacks in my training in the last month and a half and it showed in my time. Nonetheless I am happy with 6th and it more than likely would have been the same result even with good training leading in, just a better time. Joe B. (Bell's/Quiring) never disappoints and a recovery 'drink' was on him!! Thanks!! So here's how the top spots went: 1st Alison Dunlap (Luna), 2nd Kelli Emmett (Giant), 3rd Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru), 4th Amanda Carey (Kenda/Tomac), 5th Jenna Rinehart (Specialized), 6th ME. Iceman rules and Steve Brown is a genius. This event has equal top payouts for pro men and women. Kudos to that!!

So with the Iceman Cometh comes the Sunset on the Season Party, put on by Bells Beer and the Bells/Quiring race team. What happens at the party stays at the party!! Let's just say The Orbitsuns rocked it another year, fun just happens, you just need to show up!! Cheers to all the hard work and planning the Bells Race team did cuz' this party is one not to be missed. You guys make me want to "Haul Ass" right back there next year!!!

So there you have it my season ender, lots to learn from, lots to work on and lots to look forward to next year. I would like to thank Lenny B. at The Bicycle Shop for the support throughout the year. My mom and dad (awe) for watching the kids on those weekends where it is too much to load everyone in the van. And most of all my husband for the support, mechanical, feeds and driving across the province on two hours sleep after working all day.

To 29 or not to 29, that is the off-season question???

Cheers,

Sue

Short and sweet..................

2009-11-04T19:47:00.002-05:00

Time flies. I'm still alive!! After having a bit of a set back after Peak2Peak I got back in the saddle and have been able to get in a few effort rides. Been following the local Cross in the Country progress. Details later on this cross race/ride. It will be a great event! I have many pictures I want to post and will do so soon. I almost get exhausted when I think about my schedule over the next couple of weeks!! Not just on the bike but in every aspect of my life. It's all good, just a little too busy!! So on that note I will wrap up this brief post. Hopefully I can get back on track with my blog and give you some great updates. Soon enough I will have the time to ramble and fill you in on my life happenings, bike and all............................

Cheers,

Sue

Peak2Peak....bike, bonk or both................

2009-10-18T22:46:00.008-04:00

On Saturday Jay and I visited Crystal Mountain for the annual Peak 2 Peak Challenge. This is the 1st time I've raced there but I've heard that the race is well organized and a good prep for the Iceman Cometh. I will also mention that top Elite/Pro finishers receive a decent payout so it makes it worth the 4.5 plus hour car ride to the venue.
The temperature was just above freezing but other than that the weather looked promising. I had backed off the bike quite a bit due to a cold that kept me from racing the cross country race at Boyne. It has only been in the last three or four days that I've felt comfortable enough to start putting some hard efforts in again. So this race was going to be a test to see how much, if any fitness I've lost over that time. I've been pretty lucky for the past few years and saved my illness' for the off-season! ;)
We arrived at the venue early enough to kick back and have a coffee and enjoy a little bit of the fall scenery before I began my warm up. The parking lots were full of vehicles with bike racks so it looked to be a good turn out. Jay prepped my bike and took a quick nap in the van while I 'warmed up'. Not having raced here, I didn't know what to expect. Jay had put on my 'do it all tires', which aren't the fastest nor the lightest but hook up well on anything and were a safe bet for a place that I know nothing about.
My warm-up went alright, my legs felt good but I noticed my heart rate was quite a bit higher than normal and I was working harder to get the bike up to speed. I simply contributed it to being off the bike for the past three weeks or maybe it was simply the excitement to finally race again. It seemed like it's been ages since I took to the starting line.
The pro-women started with the pro-men and behind us were the expert men. The race started at what I thought was a quick pace. I did not have my normal punch and settled in behind Danielle Musto (Kenda/Tomac) and Karey Collins (MPI/Main Street Racing). I was working really hard, to the point where something just didn't feel right. Nevertheless I plugged on and continued to push. Eventually the men gapped the three of us and I found myself third in line. I felt like I was working my tail off to keep up but the bike just wasn't goin'!! I was even pushing gears that were 2 to 3 lighter than my norm and felt sluggish. Regardless I kept the other girls close. We turned a corner and saw that Joe Brzuchanski (Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycle) had a minor mishap but was alright. We passed by him and another pro and continued on. Soon after Joe was back passing us and I jumped behind him. The quick draft allowed me to get in front of Karey. Danielle had put a few bike lengths on us and as we got into some single track I was able to bridge the gap. In an open section I made a pass on Danielle putting me in 1st. Coming through a section of single track I avoided a slick root. Unfortunately, from the sound I heard behind me, Danielle didn't . I stopped and yelled to her, Karey told me that Danielle was alright and I could see that Danielle had gotten up. Knowing all was o.k., I had to keep riding.
I finished the first lap in around 45 minutes which was about three minutes slower than the pace I was hoping to set. Because of the slow pace a number of expert men riders caught us and were passing us in waves. Some of the passes were pretty aggressive but for the most part it was kept in check. When you have that many riders together on a trail at once communication and patience is key or else someone gets hurt. Which brings me to my next point. Some inconsiderate racer decided to pass between me and another expert rider while we came through the start/finish chute. We were riding side by side at a comfortable distance, about six inches apart when this guy yells out "up the middle, up the middle"! I thought to myself what is he talking about, "up the middle", then the next thing you know this rider comes up between us, clips both of our handle bars and takes us down. He falls first and then his bike. I fall on his bike and than my bike falls on me. About five or six riders pass by and I lose about 30 to 40 seconds. Thanks 'buddy', nice move. (b.t.w. post race check up revealed two broken spokes and a bent rear wheel!) Thankfully no one was hurt and our bikes were still rideable. So I collect myself and continued on. I don't know what is happening behind me with Danielle and Karey but from the timing results after the race I learned that I was around 40 seconds in front.
On to lap number two. I now know what the course is all about and what to expect. There was alot of flat single track and double track but not as much climbing as I was hoping for. The ground was sandy and mostly dry, not alot of rocks or roots and not technical. I probably had way too much tire than what I needed but it is better to be safe than sorry. Lap two was the same as lap one. I was working alot harder than I should have been and the race was dragging on. My bike continued to make some weird noises that I've never heard before. I felt like there was a steady drag. I stopped a couple of times to see if there was something wrong, spinning the wheels around, checking for brake rub......... but no visual problem. ARGH!!
Finally lap three. I could tell that my pace was slowing and by mid-lap I was hitting the wall. I stopped again to check my bike. The constant squealing/squeaking from the back end was getting to me and I was losing focus. Seemed like things were getting worse. I had to back off my gearing even more, which had me now doubting my physical fitness. At the last climb I was still in front. I didn't know by how much until Jay told me Danielle was only 20 seconds behind me. I found a little energy and forced my way up the climb. After reaching the top there was a fun section of downhill but for some reason my feet had uncontrollable shakes and I felt a bit light headed. A bike issue, a bonk, call it both I still managed to cross the finish line in first. I think Danielle ended up a minute behind and Karey was not far behind her.
In the end I was happy that I won. Did I deserve to win? Probably not. It was a good effort but I just didn't have it. Iceman is only three weeks away and that is the worst I've felt on a bike in two years. After the race I was a little concerned. It even crossed my mind just to skip Iceman this year and call it a season. Yes I was that bummed out. (OK it was a brief thought but somehow the Iceman after party put things in perspective ;) !! )
We hung around for the awards and chewed the fat with the Michigan MTB faithful. It is always a special treat to see Erin Vicary (Bell's Brewery/Quiring Cycle) at the races. She is always super encouraging and as I said as I passed by her on a climb, I miss her on the trails!! An injury kept her sidelined this year but she assured me that she will be racing next year and things are looking better. She promised that she will be racing some O-Cups next year. (I will make sure she sticks to her word!!) While talking to her I got to thinking how lucky I am just to be able to ride/race. Even a bad day on the bike is better than not riding at all.
So with Oberon in hand, my mood quickly changed. I'm going to put some hard efforts in and pick it up a bit before Iceman.
I highly recommend the Peak 2 Peak to anyone. Crystal Mountain is a quality venue and Endoman Promotions puts on a great race. The awards and payouts are great. I would like to thank the promoter for the equal pay out to the pro men and women.
On the way home, (5 hours) I told Jay about the bike and the noises it was making. He told me it was probably something in my bottom bracket and he'll check it out the next day.
Fast forward to today, Jay took a look at my bike and found that it wasn't the bottom bracket. One of the derailleur's jockey wheels was completely seized up. The other was on its way. So that was the noise I was hearing from the back of my bike during the race. So this made me feel a little better. I know I'm not going crazy and there was something on my bike definitely dragging me down. The derailleur is two and a half years old and has a lot of miles on it so it's served me well. Time for a new one, before Iceman.

I hope Danielle is feeling better. She thought she may have injured her collar bone. :(

Cheers,

Sue

too "antsy"....................

2009-10-04T19:11:00.004-04:00

For the past few years I have been racing at Boyne for the State Championships (Fun Promotions). Well I sat this year's out!! I came down with a crazy head cold! Ears, sinus' and headaches! I usually try to race through any sickness but seeing that the weather was calling for rain and cold temps (the weather is normally not a big deal), a 3.5 hour trip each way (not a big deal, I enjoy the drive) and then the issue with my head (deciding factor) I opted to stay home. I paced around the house this morning and at 10:00 am (race start time) I got bummed out!! :( I wished I was there!!! Addiction, passion, hobby, exercises, craziness, competitiveness.... call it what you want I really have a hard time sitting out!! I love to ride/race at Boyne. The trails are beautiful and at this time of the year the fall colors are awesome!

So I cast this head cold away cuz' I'm too 'antsy' and I don't want to miss another race day!!!

Cheers,

Sue